United States' scholars laud Pakistan's efforts to combat violence

WASHINGTON: Lauding Pakistan's all-out offencive against Taliban in its restive tribal region, a group of US scholars have called on the country's military and intelligence services to focus their attention over those who carry out acts of violence.

"At a time when Pakistan's internal security challenges have never been greater, as evidenced by the attacks on Karachi's International Airport, and when Pakistan's armed forces are undertaking Operation Zarb-e-Azb, we commend and support efforts by Pakistani authorities to combat violent extremism," the scholars belonging to several US think tanks said in a joint statement.

"During this period in which national cohesion has become even more important, we call on Pakistan's military and intelligence services to focus all of their attention against those who carry out violent acts against Pakistani citizens and property," they said.

Among the signatories to the joint statement were Michael Krepon from Stimson Center, George Perkovich ( Carnegie Endowment), Anatol Lieven (King's College), Stephen P. Cohen ( Brookings Institution), Toby Dalton (Carnegie Endowment) Daniel Markey (Council on Foreign Relations), Marvin Weinbaum ( Middle East Institute), Scott Sagan ( Stanford University), Lisa Curtis (The Heritage Foundation) and Walter C Ladwig (King's College).