Taliban ‘challenge of 21st century’: President

Updated at: 2114 PST, Sunday, May 10, 2009 WASHINGTON: President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday said Taliban are challenge of 21st century and a new battle.In an interview with a US TV channel, the President reiterated his confidence that Pakistan will not collapse in the increasing insurgency of the Taliban forces. When asked whether Pakistan is going to collapse, he said: “No. We are 180 million people. There the population is much, much more than the insurgents are." Admitting that Pakistan has "a problem" with Taliban activities inside its borders, the President called for joint international effort to deal with the threat of Taliban. "I think we need to find a strategy where the world gets together against this threat, because it's not Pakistan-specific. It's not Afghanistan-specific," he said. "I think the world needs to understand that this is the new challenge of the 21st century, and this is the new war." Pakistan's military intensified its campaign last week to turn back the Tablian from its moves toward Islamabad. The militants have taken control of many parts of the mountainous districts overlooking the capital.