The top American military commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen, is arriving today (Thursday) to discuss important security and counter-terrorism issues with Pakistani military authorities, with a focus on likely military operation by Pakistan in North Waziristan Agency.
“ISAF Commander General John Allen is likely to visit Pakistan on August 30. He will call on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani,” an ISPR statement said on Wednesday. “The interaction will focus on reviewing the progress made in the implementation of recently evolved border coordination measures and standing operating procedure,” it said. A security official, who sought anonymity, said General Kayani would discuss the cross-border militant attacks on Pakistani checkposts in Dir, Bajaur and Chitral from Afghanistan, with a strong demand for elaborate measures by NATO forces for their prevention.
“Pakistani defense authorities believe that since NATO troops and Afghan army are in control on the other side of Afghan border, it’s their responsibility to prevent the militant attacks on our checkposts from across the border,” he said. He said other matters of bilateral interest such as counter-terrorism operations on both sides of the Afghan border and coordination between Pakistan Army and ISAF troops along with intelligence cooperation would also be discussed in detail. A diplomatic source said General Allen would like to have the date of military operation in North Waziristan Agency from General Kayani and other top military officials. He said US authorities were for an immediate and all-out military operation by the Pakistan Army in North Waziristan Agency and especially against the ‘Haqqani network’.
