LAHORE: The military operation against the Taliban in Swat and Malakand division is a very significant effort, US Central Command chief General David Petraeus has said. In an interview with the New York Post, he said the Pakistani military has concentrated a substantial force for this operation, adding their willingness to fight the battle without US support reflected their view that this was their fight. “The magnitude is the result of a unique convergence of public rejection of the Taliban, political unity and military determination,” he added.
Petraeus told Ralph Peters “what happens in Pakistan has a significant effect on what transpires in Afghanistan”. However, he added, Pakistan’s actions against the Taliban did not hinder progress in Afghanistan.
He said the US mission was to ensure Afghanistan remained free from Al Qaeda and other transnational extremists. |