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WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (Dawn) - US President Barack Obama has reviewed the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan with his senior officials and diplomats as his administration continues a two-pronged offensive to subdue militants in that region.
The new approach includes a major military offensive in southern Afghanistan and a US-led process to encourage repentant Taliban activists to join the Afghan mainstream.
Diplomatic sources in Washington told Dawn that US and Pakistani officials were also looking at the possibility of using the arrested Afghan Taliban commander — Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to expedite the reintegration process.
Diplomatic sources in Washington say the Obama administration did not know whether to present Baradar as an enemy combatant or a useful collaborator.
Pakistani and US officials interrogating Mullah Baradar were trying to persuade him to join the reintegration process, the sources said.
“This man is the Taliban’s military chief. If he backs the reintegration process, it will definitely succeed,” said one such source.
Meanwhile, President Obama met top US officials in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president received briefings from US ambassadors in both countries, as well as an update from Gen Stanley McChrystal about the anti-Taliban offensive in Helmand province.
The meeting began with a briefing on the situation in Pakistan from Ambassador Anne Patterson, including a discussion of the progress made in building a strong partnership with the country.
