The top American general in Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. David Barno, said today that Pakistan had successfully disrupted Al Qaeda's network in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan and significantly affected its ability to support the Pakistani Taliban insurgency across the border. In an interview in the Afghan capital, General Barno commended the Pakistani military for its "bold moves" against foreign fighters in the Pakistani tribal area of Waziristan in March, and said it had so far prevented an anticipated spring offensive by the Pakistanis Taliban in Afghanistan. "There have been some tough fights, so I give them great credit for making some bold moves over there," he said.
The Pakistanis' operation since January was different in quality and quantity from their previous activity, he said, and had disrupted what had been a very stable area for Al Qaeda's foreign fighters and senior leadership where they had lived and operated free of outside military pressure for two years. "That has had a significant unsettling effect on their organization over there and to some degree on their ability to support the Pakistani proxies in Afghanistan Taliban as well," he said of Al Qaeda. "But clearly they are concerned about what is going on over there." The Pakistani authorities estimate that there are 500 to 600 foreign Al Qaeda fighters in the tribal areas, including top Al Qaeda leaders. In fighting in March, they claimed to have killed some 60 people and captured 160 more, including Uzbeks and other foreigners. Nevertheless there was no sign that any Al Qaeda members had escaped into Afghanistan, he said.
| They didn't have to. All they had to do was move ten miles north or south... |
American forces positioned on the Pakistani-Afghan border to catch any fighters escaping the Pakistani operation, in what he has described as a "hammer and anvil" tactic, have seen little movement across the border into Afghanistan, he said. "Our sense is that anyone who is there, is still there," he said. And there was every sign that Al Qaeda fighters would stay in the Pakistani tribal areas and fight, partly because they knew it was "extraordinarily dangerous" for them to operate in Afghanistan because of the American presence, he said.
| Right now they're riding around the countryside in their turbans and part of the tribal lashkars... |
He described them as trained and experienced fighters, who had deep roots and had intermarried in Pakistan. "This isn't just a transient force, these folks are there for the long haul," he said. "Our sense is that that they are going to stay and fight the Pakistanis. I think ultimately they'll be destroyed regardless of which choice they make. But so far we have not seen them make any choice to come into Afghanistan. And if they do, we are certainly going to deal with them."
| Of course they'll avoid engagement with our troops. They're protecting their high command, so they wouldn't want to expose it in the process. The tribal lashkar charade allows them to adjust their relations with the local Pak authorities and doesn't really present any danger to them... |
Pakistan was showing a new determination, especially after taking casualties in the fighting in March, he said. "They are pushing forward and they are looking to finish this fight in the tribal area," he said of the Pakistani military. "Are they having setbacks? Absolutely. Are they continuing to press forward? Not really. Yes. Are they genuine in this? I think absolutely, yes."
| Are they frightened they're going to get their noses bloodied? Yes. Are they going to make faces and issue blood-curdling threats, then wait until the heat's off and go home? Yes. |
The Paks in Afghanistan Taliban, meanwhile, had failed to mount its threatened spring offensive in Afghanistan to date, partly thanks to the success of the Pakistani operation, General Barno said. |