PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan military operations in the tribal area are ‘critical to defeating the insurgency’ in Afghanistan and combined with its support for the reconciliation process would help reduce violence in Afghanistan.
This was stated by Lt Gen John "Mick" Nicholson on Thursday as he appeared before the US Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing. The Pentagon had on Wednesday announced him as its choice for the next commander of American forces in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan’s pressure on the Taliban combined with its support to the reconciliation process are mutually reinforcing, and when combined, will help reduce the violence in Afghanistan,” Lt Gen Nicholson said.
He added that Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) had “reduced the ability of militants to use its territory as a safe haven for terrorism and as base of support for the insurgency in Afghanistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2016.
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