WASHINGTON: Frustrated US military commanders in Afghanistan are pushing for a series of Special Operations ground raids in Pakistan, the New York Times reported.
The raids would likely need approval from President Barack Obama himself, and the wary administration fears political backlash in Pakistan. But the commanders see much to gain, particularly in terms of intelligence from captured militant leaders. “We’ve never been as close as we are now to getting the go-ahead to go across,” report quoted a US officer. The Times said military officials wanted to chart it out before US forces withdrew from Afghanistan. NATO officials in Afghanistan issued a statement criticising the NYT report and denied any intention to carry out ground raids inside Pakistan.
US Navy Rear Adm Gregory Smith, the deputy chief of staff for communications for the NATO force, said there was “absolutely no truth” to reports of planned ground operations by US forces inside Pakistan.
