The United States has said that frustrations exist on both sides of Pakistan-Afghanistan border over terror issues as it sought greater cooperation between the two neighbours within a trilateral framework including NATO in the wake of Afghanistan-based militants’ deadly incursion into Pakistani territory.
The US State Department comments follow Islamabad’s voicing a strong protest over NATO and Kabul inaction against militant safe havens inside Afghanistan, from where militants’ attacked and killed 13 Pakistani soldiers this week.
A State Department spokesperson also urged respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity in addressing together cross-border terrorism.
“Our pitch will be again for increased cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan on these terrorists issues, working together in the core group in a trilateral way NATO/ISAF, Pakistan and Afghanistan to try to deal with terrorism on both sides of the border,” State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said. “It speaks to why we want to get back on track in our own counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan,” she added.
According to Pakistani officials , around 100 militants from across the Afghan border entered Dir and clashed with a team of Pakistani security forces on patrol. The militants also targeted two security checkposts near Pakistan-Afghan border in Barawal, Upper Dir district.
Questioned if Washington would support Pakistani troops crossing over the Afghan border to attack the militant safe havens, the spokesperson said: “Again, both sides need to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity but they need to work together in how they are each going to deal with problems on their own side of the border. I think there are frustrations on both sides.”
