New Pakistani leader vows to tackle militants

The fight against terrorism and militant violence has come under the spotlight at the swearing-in of Pakistan’s new president.

Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of fomer prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was joined by his three children at a ceremony in Islamabad.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was there and, at a news conference later, they vowed to work together against militants.

Karzai said: “In this specific area of the war and the fight against terrorism, I found in President Zadari a good will and vision.”

Zardari said: “The goverment of Pakistan already has a comprehensive plan, and of course we bring to it the impetus of the people of Pakistan. Yesterday’s war may not have had the people behind it, but today’s war does have the people of Pakistan (behind it), In fact, it has the president of Pakistan (behind it), who himself is a victim of terrorism.”

Zardari was elected over the weekend to replace former leader and army chief Pervez Musharraf. Elements of his army and secret service had often been accused in the past by Afghanistan of supporting Taliban insurgents.