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'Pakistan still safe haven for militants'
[Iran Press TV] A US military report says Afghan beturbanned goons continue to enjoy sanctuary in Pakistain's border regions with Afghanistan, since the US-led invasion in 2001."The concern about the role of safe havens in Pakistain and the role of actors in Pakistain remains a significant challenge," Times of India quoted a US senior defense official as saying at a Pentagon briefing on Saturday. According to the official, Pentagon has sent its six-monthly report to Congress on progress made in war-torn Afghanistan. He added that the United States is looking for continued and increased cooperation with Pakistain on the border, the report added. The Pentagon report notes that Talibs are able to regenerate command, control and operational capacity from the region. The report warns that the beturbanned goons will likely retain operational momentum in areas where the support structures exist. It also urges Pakistain to do more to eliminate safe havens for the Talibs. Earlier this month, Washington acknowledged that the Taliban have gained strength in Pakistain's border regions with Afghanistan. The report concluded that there remains no clear path toward defeating militancy in Pakistain. The US military carries out aerial operations on the Pak regions, which are home to Death Eater hideouts, but the unauthorized US drone attacks have often led to the death of civilians. Last year alone, some 1,200 Paks were killed in over 100 such strikes, according to reports. The strikes have further fueled the anti-US sentiment already on the rise in the region. Insecurity is also rising in Afghanistan despite the presence of about 150,000 US-led foreign troops. Posted by: Fred 2011-05-02 |
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