WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2008
Biden Holds Talks With Pakistani Leaders
VP-Elect And S.C. Republican Sen. Graham Discuss Terrorism, Counterinsurgency And Economy
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U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, wearing civilian award Hilal-e-Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
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Fast Facts Pakistan Learn about the people, economy and history.
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Interactive Assault On Al Qaeda The manhunt on the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Biden and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham met with President Asif Ali Zadari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, aides said. The bipartisan pair also discussed counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and the economy with interior adviser Rehman Malik and Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.
In a statement, Gilani said he pressed upon Biden the importance of greater U.S. aid to improve Pakistan's military capacity. Biden has spearheaded legislation to increase humanitarian spending in Pakistan but that also links military aid to Islamabad's performance in the fight against militants.
Gilani also said the two countries should share more intelligence so Pakistan could go after militant targets on its own, removing the need for U.S. missile strikes on its territory. Pakistan routinely condemns such strikes by the U.S.
Biden aides did not disclose their schedule for security reasons, but the public descriptions of the trip suggested destinations such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The United States has a strong interest in the stability of Pakistan's weak civilian government because it is considered an ally in the region.
Biden traveled in his role as a U.S. senator from Delaware. He takes office as vice president on Jan. 20 but has not yet resigned his Senate seat. Aides said Biden took the trip now because an official White House trip would take months to organize.
Biden's trip just days before becoming vice president was a clear signal that President-elect Barack Obama's new administration plans to make an immediate priority the battle against al Qaeda and Taliban militants operating along the Pakistan-Afghan border. U.S. officials worry that a conflict with India could distract Pakistan from eliminating militant sanctuaries along the Afghan frontier, and have urged India and Pakistan to cooperate.
Biden's visit came just hours after a U.S. counterterrorism official told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr that an American missile strike had killed two senior al Qaeda figures in Pakistan.
Mr. Obama's national security team suggested the visit to help the new administration get an on-the-ground sense of the situation in those countries.
Biden, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had planned to travel with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the incoming chairman of committee, and Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Susan Collins, R-Maine. Those three bowed out of the group, citing Senate votes scheduled this weekend.
Biden was sworn in for a seventh term Tuesday, a move similar to what Lyndon Johnson did while in the same situation in 1960 when he also was vice president-elect. Edward Kaufman, Biden's chief of staff for almost two decades, was appointed to fill the seat when Biden resigns.
The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan said Zardari bestowed an award on Biden, the "Hilal-i-Pakistan," to recognize the veteran politician's "consistent support for democracy and socio-economic development in Pakistan and for his outstanding contribution to the strengthening of U.S.-Pakistan relations."
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- They sure do spend a lot of time with others around the world never minding there own bees wax and starting wars for your children to dye. I thought they were suppose to serve the US people not the world. Besides the government in America are the terrorist of the world and your all in danger when Obama takes office i really see this man as a huge splinter in the future for the US.
But ultimately it comes down to the mind set of the voter and its just stupid voters electing stupid leaders bringing stupid wars for you all.
Welcomed to America the Welfare/Warfare state - Reply to this comment
- Joe Biden only needs to say to these leaders this.
The Messiah is about to take power, you all need to kneel to him and America as he is about to bring peace to the whole earth. Hail the Messiah!!
Posted by jedi23231 at 05:10 AM : Jan 10, 2009
You poor fascist are so sad!! ROFLMAO Do you honestly think ANYONE is actually listening to you freaks anymore? After the MASSIVE amount of failure they have seen out of you?? ROFLMAO - Reply to this comment
- Re: "Pakistan routinely condemns such strikes by the U.S."
As does international law.
If these strikes are to be considered legitimate, then a similar strike against Mr. Biden and Mr. Graham during their visit, would be at least equally so. - Reply to this comment
- It nice to see Joe not waiting for the disastrous Bush foreign policies to end.
The British have controlled the Bush/Cheney White House for far too long and it''s time for an American approach to foreign policy aimed at diffusing tensions.
The Indian/Pakistanian border was created by the British to divide a people who had religous differences but never had the type of constant tensions and petty wars like they have now with British ''chaos theory''.
Everyone knows that the Anglo-Saudis were behind the Mumbai killings and the British wants more then anything the whole world erupt in WW3 so the global population can be reduced by 80%
These are sick parasites that dwell in the City of London and now that their financial empire is crumbling, they want the U.S. to do one last thing which is go to war with Russia and China.
This is so that the last 4 major countries in the world can be broken up, balkanized and brought under the control of the U.N. so the British can be a sole ruler of the U.N. just like a colonial power. - Reply to this comment
- Joe will put his heart and soul into this position. He can''t wait to "get at it" and I expect that he will do an outstanding job representing the incoming President.
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- Him taking his foot out of his mouth all the time IS pretty entertaining.
Posted by AJMarine111 at 06:03 PM : Jan 09, 2009
Why can''''t you people TRY being an American once in awhile?
Posted by irmcvet971 at 07:50 PM : Jan 09, 2009
I am.
I just stated what Joe does best and I said nothing about Obama.
You need to lighten up MC, you are going to blow a gasket someday. - Reply to this comment
- The man of Gaffes- The guy that can see the future- the person that will fill the shoes in the event of a tragedy..the person who thought his leader was not experainced to lead..shall I go on?
Posted by peace4321 at 05:13 PM : Jan 09, 2009
Ya think so?? I''m willing to bet you MY Sarah Palin Interview Video that he and OBAMA do a MUCH better job than what we NOW have! ROFLMAO What a waste you freaks have become... YOU and YOUR policies are a JOKE and you want to still sling mud!! ROFLMAO Can YOU say Irrelevant? ROFLMAO - Reply to this comment
- Him taking his foot out of his mouth all the time IS pretty entertaining.
Posted by AJMarine111 at 06:03 PM : Jan 09, 2009
Why can''t you people TRY being an American once in awhile? I mean when you look at the MASSIVE amount of failure in front of you. When you look at an Enemy in a SAFE HAVE in Pakistan, rebuilt to pre attack strength, KNOWING that good men are going to HAVE to die for the gross and MASSIVE incompetence of the PRESENT Administration, you could show a little more restraint! Now EVERYONE on these boards KNOWS you poor folks do NOT respect the decision of WE the PEOPLE here but they HAVE spoken. Bush, his Policies, his War? They rejected it all and they spoke pretty loudly considering they elected a Young Black Man over McCain. - Reply to this comment
- You''''ll have fun watching beginning in a very few days.
Posted by justSpiffy at 04:47 PM : Jan 09, 2009
Him taking his foot out of his mouth all the time IS pretty entertaining. - Reply to this comment
- I laugh at some of these post.
Most don''t seem to know Vice-President Elect Biden as I remember him in the senate.
He was a gunfighter in another life. I pity anyone
that thinks they''ve got him figured out.
They will just pay later. He''s tough and smart.
You''ll have fun watching beginning in a very few days. - Reply to this comment
- The US should just nuke this arab wannabe ,doubtful parentage country,Pigkestan & save burden to US taxpayers...enough had been handed over to them & yet bet they''ll still prefer to stay holed in their smelly caves
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- I have a funny feeling that Biden will be behind alot of obama''''s decisions. He''''s already showed his inexperience. He has been criticised by several world leaders, the daft speech in germany,his stupid Q''''s for top positions in his government and when he visited Britain i believed he called the head of of the conservative opposition a lightweight, stupid enough, but especially so when he''''ll probably win the next election. Obama isn''''t making many friend despite all of this so - called new found faith in America.
Posted by koopa98 at 01:31 PM : Jan 09, 2009
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It''s funny to see a republican criticize Obama for not making "friends" in the world. Ha Ha Ha. Where have you been during the Bush years? - Reply to this comment
- Karzai? Hmph
- Reply to this comment
- Just curious. As VP, did *** cheney EVER meet with any World Leaders (other than the oil ones he''''s in bed with)?
Posted by stevex47 at 01:44 PM : Jan 09, 2009
Stevex47 - Yes Cheney met with at least one world leader not associated with oil. Cheney was in Afghanistan in early 2007 and then again in 2008. I know about the one in 2007 as I was serving there when he visited. - Reply to this comment
- He will urge this nuclear Arab nation to lead the other Arab nations in the fight against global warming.
- Reply to this comment
- Just curious. As VP, did *** cheney EVER meet with any World Leaders (other than the oil ones he''s in bed with)?
- Reply to this comment
- I have a funny feeling that Biden will be behind alot of obama''s decisions. He''s already showed his inexperience. He has been criticised by several world leaders, the daft speech in germany,his stupid Q''s for top positions in his government and when he visited Britain i believed he called the head of of the conservative opposition a lightweight, stupid enough, but especially so when he''ll probably win the next election. Obama isn''t making many friend despite all of this so - called new found faith in America.
- Reply to this comment
