Anti-Taliban offensive in Pak has popular support: Holbrooke

The military operation against the Taliban in Pakistan is getting "popular support" as there was a "dramatic change" in the attitude of the people due to the outrageous offences committed by the militants, the top US envoy for the region has claimed.

Fresh from his visit to Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke said the country faces the "daunting task" of combating terrorism and putting a crumbling economy on track, but there is greater "determination" there to meet these challenges.
    
The US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan met top political and military leadership of the country, besides visiting the refugee camps in the northwest. There was a "consensus" in Pakistan behind government's actions against Taliban in Swat and adjoining areas, he told reporters.

"Everywhere there was a dramatic change in attitude from my previous trips because of outrages (of) the Taliban and their supporters. This was widely recognised," he said.

Referring to the terrorist attacks in Pakistan -- including the latest suicide bombing in Peshawar -- after the army launched the offensive against the Taliban in the northwest tribal belt, Holbrooke said such tactics would cause a greater resentment among the people against the Taliban.

"Another major hotel (attacked) in Peshawar, my impression is that this is enraging the population." Even Pakistan's top military officials, he said, "feel they now have popular support" for what they are doing.