Bester News

The United States quickly sent humanitarian relief to Pakistan after a series of earthquakes and aftershocks hit the mountainous region of Balochistan in October.  So far, $2.5 million has been channeled to the region through the U.S. Agency for International Development and partners such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The United States supports efforts by Afghanistan’s government to reach out to militants willing to lay down their arms, but has no plans to negotiate with the Taliban, says Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.  “We have been and continue to be willing to support those policies,” Boucher said.

The arrest of an alleged Taliban-linked drug kingpin marks another step forward in international efforts to break linkages between opium traffickers and violent militants that threaten Afghanistan’s future, say top U.S. officials. Meanwhile, opium poppy cultivation is down by 22 percent.

The United States and India sign an agreement that allows for the sale of nuclear technology, enhanced nonproliferation safeguards and a strengthened partnership. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee sign the agreement October 10 in Washington.

The U.S. Congress approves legislation that will bring India’s nuclear programs under international inspections and enhance trade between the two nations. “I look forward to signing this bill into law and continuing to strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership,” President Bush says.

The United States is committed to a long-term strategic partnership with Afghanistan, says Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, and is dedicated to supporting its democratically elected leaders and promoting security and prosperity.

The most significant challenge facing the United States and its allies in Afghanistan is increasing the competence and reliability of the Afghan security forces, says U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates says the United States must encourage Afghanistan and Pakistan to work together to secure their mountainous border.

President Bush meets with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at the United Nations to discuss the September 20 truck bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad and review relations between the United States and Pakistan. Expressing condolences from the American people, Bush tells Zardari, “We stand with you.”

Both U.S. presidential candidates — Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama — say they want to strengthen relationships with South Asian countries, with a focus on economic and security cooperation. Both McCain and Obama favor greater security cooperation with India.

Congress must act quickly to approve a civil nuclear cooperation deal with India that can allow future leaders to continue a historic transformation in relations between Washington and New Delhi. “We believe the time is now for Congress to move forward on the 123 Agreement.”