WASHINGTON // Pakistan now poses a "mortal threat" to the world the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said yesterday.
Surging violence across Pakistan and the spread of Taliban influence through its north-west are reviving concerns about the stability of the nuclear-armed country, an important US ally vital to efforts to stabilise neighbouring Afghanistan.
The US President Barack Obama, who on March 27 unveiled a new strategy that seeks to crush al Qa'eda and Taliban militants in Afghanistan and those operating from across the border in Pakistan, meets the presidents of both countries next month.
The talks illustrate US anxiety that Afghanistan could again become a haven for al Qa'eda militants to launch foreign attacks more than seven years after US-led forces toppled the Afghan Taliban regime that sheltered the September 11 attackers.
Speaking to US legislators Ms Clinton said the Pakistani government had to provide basic services to its people or risk seeing the Taliban, and other extremists, fill the vacuum.
Under pressure from conservatives, Mr Zardari earlier this month signed a regulation imposing Islamic law in Swat, a north-western valley once one of Pakistan's most popular tourist destinations.
Asked about the matter, Ms Clinton bluntly replied: "I think that the Pakistani government is basically abdicating to the Taliban and to the extremists."
Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms Clinton said, ominously, that the situation in Pakistan "poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world".
*Reuters
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Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
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Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
57%20Seconds
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