Afghanistan, NATO launch 'new push against Haqqanis'
Defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak says operation 'Knife Edge' was launched two days ago.
KABUL:
Afghan security forces and their NATO allies have launched a new push against the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network along the troubled Pakistani border, senior defence officials said Tuesday.
Defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak said operation "Knife Edge" was launched two days ago, while a senior defence ministry official said it was "largely against the Haqqani network", blamed for a recent attack in Kabul.
US officials have accused Pakistan of ties to the Haqqani group, causing diplomatic rifts as the West seeks an end to the 10-year war in Afghanistan.
A NATO spokesman confirmed only that "enhanced official operations" were ongoing in the eastern region that borders Pakistan, but gave no further details for security reasons.
Afghan security forces and their NATO allies have launched a new push against the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network along the troubled Pakistani border, senior defence officials said Tuesday.
Defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak said operation "Knife Edge" was launched two days ago, while a senior defence ministry official said it was "largely against the Haqqani network", blamed for a recent attack in Kabul.
US officials have accused Pakistan of ties to the Haqqani group, causing diplomatic rifts as the West seeks an end to the 10-year war in Afghanistan.
A NATO spokesman confirmed only that "enhanced official operations" were ongoing in the eastern region that borders Pakistan, but gave no further details for security reasons.