Pakistani-Americans seek peaceful co-existence.

"Power does not work, it only creates more violence so what needs to be done is diplomacy, good will and justice." said Dr. Agha Saeed, founder of the Pakistan American National Alliance (PANA).

A press conference held today by PANA in Washington, D.C. addressed the need for economic, cultural, social and political aid from the Obama administration and the U.S. They indicated that the ultimate goal is to propose a partnership for peace, utilizing smart power (combination of hard and soft power) rather than coercive power, and to fight against international terrorism.

According to the document titled "Pakistani-American Initiative for Peace in South Asia" given to press conference attendees, the extremism of terrorist attacks continue to worsen after the events of 9/11. The fight against terrorism in Pakistan resulted in the deaths of more than 1200 military personnel not including numbers of innocent victims. The document also indicated specific reasons for India witnessing so many terrorist acts which was due to methods of understanding and dealing with terrorist groups.

The Pakistani-Americans expressed that Pakistan has supported the American agenda in favor of U.S. policy and they are hopeful that the U.S. will do the same in return. New Hampshire State Representative Saghir Tahir said that educating Americans is a good way to get their support. "The American people are the best, most caring, loving, sharing people and if you talk to them just like now 79% of Americans they oppose war and they realize that war is not a solution." he said.


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Justice can defeat terror

President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan Aitzaz Ahsan says an independent justice system in Pakistan would be a be good tool against the war on terror. (2:53)
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Pakistan getting worse and worse

Former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Wendy Chamberlin says that extremism is at its worst level ever in Pakistan. She also says that our assistance to the Pakistanis must be about them, not us. (0:56)
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Susan Rice on Obama's 'More for More' Strategy

Obama's Foreign Policy Adviser Susan Rice discusses Obama's strategies for Afghanistan and Pakistan as she speaks following the vice presidential debate in St.Louis, MO. (:40)
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Taliban rises again

Foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute Malou Innocent discusses how the Taliban and al-Qaida have been able to takeover the tribal lands on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.(0:30)
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We have to accept the realities of Afghanistan

vice president of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute Ted Galen Carpenter says that the U.S. has to accept that Afghanistan will not be a western style democracy. (0:54)
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Rice: Iraq has distracted us from central front in war on terror

Speaking to reporters after the first presidential debate, Obama campaign advisor Susan Rice says that McCain was involved in the decisions that led to a focus on Iraq, distracting our forces from the central front in the war on terror, Afghanistan and Pakistan. (0:46)



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Condoleezza Rice and Friends of Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly

Friends of Pakistanand United States Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice discuss the Bhutto Doctrine.  "People of Pakistan can rest assured that democracy does work and it is working", the organization stated that the doctrine will delegate authority and allow for "regional ownership to the problems that Pakistan is having."

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Secretary Rice added that the doctrine will help the region "more towards a more stable and prosperous Pakistan."

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<a href=http://media.libsyn.com/media/talkradionews/20080926RiceandFriendsofPakistanatGA.mp3>Listen to Audio File</a>
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Pakistan border security an everyday problem says Reid

During a conference call from the Middle East Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says that while the Taliban activities have increased in Afghanistan so has the ability of the U.S. coalition to deal with them. He also speaks about the problems found in southern Afghanistan on the border with Pakistan where militants are able to cross into Afghanistan. (0:53)
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Top Defense official: attack on Afghanistan outpost "sophisticated"

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff explains a recent attack on an outpost in Afghanistan that resulted in the death of nine U.S. troops. He explains the nature of the attack, detailing the size and sophistication of the militant force. (0:37)
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Mullen: Afghanistan and Pakistan secruity linked

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says that there can't be discssion on the security of Afghanistan withou talking about Pakistan. He calls for a plan and strategy to deal with Pakistan. (0:33)
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Pakistan-Afghanistan border "a real problem"

Speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce North American Forum, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a "real problem". He also said that U.S. needs to give the new Pakistan government time to organize. (0:58)
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Changing times in Pakistan

Russ Feingold (D-Wis) talks about the party change in rule in northern western Pakistan. Feingold was testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. (1:07)
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Senator Obama says we should be talking to Iran

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Iraq After the Surge: What Next?" Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) says he thinks the surge has reduced violence and given breathing room, but that breathing room has not been taken the way they would all like it to be taken. The political situation is complicated there, and we have to work vigorously to resolve it. In your own words Ambassador [Ryan Crocker], Obama says, if we increase pressure in a measured way, that, in my mind, includes a timetable for withdrawal. It has to be a diplomatic surge that includes Iran, because if Maliki can tolerate normal neighbor to neighbor relations in Iran, then we should be talking to them as well because I don't believe we are going to be able to stabilize the situation without them. (:28)
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Senator Obama says a messy sloppy status quo is an achievable goal

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Iraq After the Surge: What Next?" Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) says he's not suggesting that we yank out our troops all the way, but the problem that he has is that the definition of success is so high with no traces of al-Qaida, no possibility of reconstitution, a highly effective Iraqi government, a functioning democracy, no Iranian influence (the kind we don't like), and so that gives the possibility of us staying for twenty or thirty years. If our criteria is a messy, sloppy status quo but there is not a huge outbreak of violence, and its not a threat to its neighbors, that is an achievable goal within a measurable time frame, and that is what I think the committee is trying to get to. (1:10)
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Ambassador Crocker says the gains in Iraq are fragile

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Iraq After the Surge: What Next?" Ambassador Ryan Crocker says everything in Iraq is hard, and it will continue to be hard. But hard does not mean hopeless, he says, and the progress is significant. The gains are fragile and they are reversible. (:24)
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If God came down and chose which section of al-Qaida to eliminate, what section should it be?

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Iraq After the Surge: What Next?" Chairman Joseph Biden (D-DE) says "In a choice, the Lord Almighty came down and sat in the middle of the table there and said, 'Mr. Ambassador, you can eliminate every al-Qaida source in Afghanistan and Pakistan or every al-Qaida personnel in Iraq,' which would you pick?" U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, says he would choose al-Qaida in the Afghanistan Pakistan border area. "That would be a smart choice," Biden says. (:33)
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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks about relations between Turkey and Iraq

While traveling in Turkey Sec. Gates says that the U.S. hopes to establish better relations between Turkey and Iraq to target Kurdish militant groups while respecting Iraqi sovereignty. He gives an analogy to U.S. relations in Pakistan. (0:46)
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The Editor of the Daily Times in Pakistan talks about US-Pakistan Relations Post-Elections

Najam Sethi, the editor of the Daily Times in Pakistan discusses the importance of privacy in between US-Pakistani relations. (0:25)
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Dr. Markey states what he feels is needed for a successful Pakistan Election

Dr. Daniel Markey lists the four ingredients he feels would make for a successful Pakistani Election. The four ingredients are a technically sound process, security of the campaign, active political parties, and a free flow of information so the people can make an informed choice.
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