Post-Salala incident: Pentagon spokesman outlines challenges

Even after 2014, US will remain committed to future of Afghanistan and region, says Kirby.

WASHINGTON:

With Pakistan reopening Nato supply routes after months of haggling with the US, relations between Islamabad and Washington would seem to be turning the corner – but it still feels far from it.

In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Pentagon spokesman Captain John Kirby spoke at length about the impact the Salala attack had on the already fragile relations between the two allies

Kirby said that military cooperation was improving since the November 26 raid. “We have been encouraged, for instance, that the International Security Assistance Force liaison officers have returned to work at the 11th Corps Headquarters in Peshawar, and every day there is good communication between our militaries across the border,” he said.

Kirby added that “we certainly welcome Pakistan’s recent decision to open the ground lines of communication and see this as another step forward in the relationship.”

The spokesman further said that the allies were trying to improve their military relationship to face common security challenges in the region together.

When questioned what the US forces along the border were doing to nullify the threat of militants on the Afghan side, and how they expected the Pakistani military to combat the threat from their end, he responded, “I think it is fair to say that both sides face a common threat from extremist networks. The coalition continues to increase pressure on the Taliban and other extremists inside Afghanistan, and we recognise that the Pakistani military has taken casualties in their fight against extremists as well.”

Kirby further said that the Haqqani network remains a very lethal threat to the US and the coalition forces, as well as to the Afghan security forces. “ISAF continues to put pressure on the Haqqani network inside Afghanistan, and we believe that Pakistani officials recognise our concerns about the safe havens this network continues to enjoy inside Pakistan” he said.

Brushing aside concerns of threat to Pakistani interests after the withdrawal of Nato forces from Afghanistan in 2014, he said that partnerships would not end.

“We’ve long said that even after 2014, the United States will remain committed to the future of Afghanistan and to the region. Our relationships with Afghanistan and Pakistan will endure.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2012.