'Army has a plan in case of US withdrawal from Afghanistan'

Corps Commander Peshawar says Pakistan Army has a plan in place for the tribal areas in case of a withdrawal.

PESHAWAR: Corps Commander Peshawar, Lieutenant General Asif Yaseen Malik on Monday said that Pakistan Army has a plan in place for the tribal areas in case of US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Speaking to the media at Peshawar Garrison, he said that the army had six brigades in North Waziristan, and that these troops were carrying out targeted operations in the agency.

Malik said 46 arrested militants have completed vocational training under Pakistan Army to lead normal lives. He said militants who received vocational training were forced by the Taliban to join them.

The 48 countries that make up the Nato-led force in Afghanistan in November agreed to end the combat mission and withdraw troops from the country by 2014. Pakistan said it was satisfied with Nato’s plans to hand over control to Afghan security forces, but cautioned against any withdrawal that doesn’t acknowledge “ground realities.”