US sees 'silver lining' in public reaction on Malala attack

The spokesperson of the US State Department, Victoria Nuland was asked during the briefing Friday whether the condemnation across cross-sections of the Pakistani society against Taliban and militancy after the attack on Malala in swat could be termed as a turning point in the fight against extremism in the country. She said this was indeed the silver lining in the tragic incident.She said this would help the Pakistani government in going after the extremists with popular support. Obviously, the degree to which the Pakistani people turn against them helps their government to go after them, that would be perhaps a silver lining for this horrible tragedy, she maintained.We have seen in the past in Pakistan that when the Taliban commit truly heinous and outrageous acts like this, it galvanises popular opinion against them not only in cities, but also in those towns and neighborhoods where they plot and hide, she recalled while referring to other terrorist activities in Pakistan during the last few years.Ms. Nuland said that they were yet to hear from the Pakistani government about the US offer of treatment facilities for Malala Yusufzai. We are obviously in contact with the government of Pakistan about what might be needed but I dont have anything to announce at this stage, she pointed out.The spokesperson of the State Department refused to answer a question about Imran Khans drive against drone attacks in Pakistan and his announcement to take it to the next level in the US. We respect the right of peaceful protests, but I am not going to comment at all on intelligence matters, she remarked.- Contributed by Awais Saleem, Dunya News correspondent in Washington, DC