Positive steps: ‘Af-Pak border coordination improving’

Pakistan has taken a positive, visible step in advancing the shared objective of a peaceful Afghanistan: Panetta

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said on Tuesday that while there is no doubt that militants are crossing the Af-Pak border, they are trying to improve border coordination with Pakistan. Addressing a joint press conference at the Pentagon with the US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, Secretary Panetta said that General Dempsey and US Central Command head General Mattis would also be meeting with Pakistan Army chief General Parvez Kayani. He said cross border cooperation with Pakistan has been increasing. “Pakistan has taken a positive, visible step in advancing the shared objective of a peaceful Afghanistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2012.