WASHINGTON: As relations with United States settle back into normal phase of cooperation after months of strain, Washington is now going to focus more on working with Islamabad and Kabul to contain militant activities along the porous Durand Line.
"Well, we're working closely with both countries, obviously, to try to limit violence along the Afghan-Pakistan border," a Pentagon spokesperson said, amid weeks of complaining from both sides about cross-border attacks along the disputed Pak-Afghan border.
Pakistan has asked Kabul to act against safe havens of militants in its eastern Kunar and Nooristan provinces, in the backdrop of more than a dozen deadly cross-border assaults that have killed over 100 people, including civilians and soldiers.
Reports say Mullah Fazlullah and other militants, who fled the army's counter terrorism operations in Swat and Bajaur, have found refuge across the border in Afghanistan.
Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said,"we are settling back into a normal phase of cooperation with our Pakistani partners. And border coordination, we believe, is improving."
Last week, the ISAF commander in Afghanistan General John Allen said that his forces were ready to act on the Afghan side of the border if Pakistan reciprocates on its side of the Durand Line against militant safe havens.
Answering a question, Little saw no change in the US-led allies' Afghan mission.
"In our estimation, I'm not sure there's any particular change to the mission in Afghanistan. We're carrying out the mission as we've designed," he said.
"We're moving quickly and prudently toward implementation of the improvement of Afghan national security force capabilities. And, of course, we're following the Lisbon timeline toward the end of 2014," he added referring to the deadline set by Nato for transferring full security responsibility to Afghans and end the combat mission in Afghanistan.
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@US CENTCOM: What relationship are you talking about Joseph? The OBL raid was a serious offense in eyes of international law which your strategists bypass with the gimmicks of 3000 legal advisors and lawyers hired by your State Department, finding fissures in UN charters and manipulating the security council approved resolutions to navigate the conflict to reach your objectives. You didnt take us over board for that raid mission ,you didn't trust us then,why would you trust us now.?
@US CENTCOM: Dear Capt. Kreidel, It would be of some benefit to the reader if you were more precise in your nomenclature. For example you use the words terrorists, terrorist outfits and enemy, but do not really spell out who you are writing about I am reasonably certain that your high school English teachers would not have allowed this type of low level expression, and am absolutely certain that your college professors would have given you a fail. It would be appreciated if you could lift your game.
One of our focuses in the area has been to secure the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Do you not agree that it is in the interest of all parties that terrorists do not have free access to cross the border? These cross-border attacks have hampered our efforts to bring peace in the region. The series of attacks in recent times show that the enemy retains a foothold in the region. Have you not noticed that it was the terrorists who profited most from the slowdown in our relationship? It has always been in the common interest of all to secure the border and go after the terrorist outfits operating from lawless areas on both sides of the border. Our cooperation will surely curb the violence, and give the innocent people on both sides of the borders a chance to go about their daily business without worrying about losing their lives due to a terrorist attack.
Capt. Joseph Kreidel DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
Kunnar,Noristan,are widely known insurgents safe havens. some quarters concerned proposed,financed and plotted them and thereafter instigated for cross border attacks.
In case, United States want its peaceful withdrawal from this landlocked country it should control or finish the safe trenches in the remote areas.
A tough task is being assigned to Pakistan to following the Haqqani net work,in the same way it is the duty of the Afghan government and the American /Nato forces stationed there since long to uproot the terrorism from stoney land of Afghanistan.
“We’re moving quickly and prudently toward implementation of the improvement of Afghan national security force capabilities''
By the above mentioned statement,we easily come to the conclusion that what the United States wants in fact. The fact is that America have not interests in Afghanistan.There are no hidden treasures as research reveals,America want assurance regarding its security,safety of its people,America want no 9/11 again that was result of a Afghan insurgency.
But the situation is still beyond the control.Ground reality indicating to Pakistan,and Pakistan can play a vital role in re overcoming the situation so America don't want to lose Pakistan at any cost.
Pakistan have some serious reservations to which American has continuously disregarding,that is a drones strikes on its territory which comes under the open violation of International Law and other hand preference being given to India,Indian presence in the region with any remarkable role assigned by the United States may create new issues between two rival nuclear armed states
Before withdrawal ,American leadership have desire to see capabilities in Afghan armed forces so that insurgents could not come back into power and decade long efforts does not go wast.
Very well done and impressive but would you like to define truly,honestly and sincerely that what about US' drones' strikes on Pakistani tribal areas which is against the international laws and the openly and intentionally violation of Pakistani aerial territory?????????
Does this mean that at long last U.S./NATO have purchased GPS navigation systems, and will be able to find their way around the border regions without killing Pakistan troops. I for one will keep my fingers crossed. CentCom appears to be hopelessly incompetent. However, I suppose they have to improve?.
We hope this news item is veritable and factual. The Afghans / Pathans are experienced and tough fighters with a historical background of confronting invasions in the period predating the Islamic and Common Era. Moreover, they have chosen not to change with the passage of time.
Inshallah with this trilateral co-operation the existing status will change and we can hope to see a period of stability and development. However, their leaders must change their habits of the past and live in the present. Nevertheless, the going will not be easy, because many Afghans are hesitant to confront the Taliban due to their barbaric approach.
Salams