NATO unsure of effectiveness of Pak Army’s Afghan counter-insurgency measures

LONDON - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is unsure over the impact of Pakistan Army’s offensive in country’s restive tribal regions over its own counter-insurgency measures within Afghanistan.

Interacting with reporters ahead of the two-day NATO foreign ministers conference, which will take place in Estonian capital Tallin next week, NATO spokesperson James Appathurai admitted that operations against the Taliban in both Afghanistan and Pakistan are ‘difficult’.

When asked whether the Pakistan Army’s offensive against extremists in the lawless tribal areas have been of any help to the NATO’s own anti-terror operation in Afghanistan, Appathurai said : “I have not seen an answer to that question.”

Responding to a question regarding Islamabad’s proposal to train Afghan forces, he said it was upto both countries to decide.

Appathurai also pointed out that the NATO was facing a shortage of trainers for the Afghan security forces.

“The organisation needs at least 500 trainers,” The Daily Times quoted Appathurai, as saying. (ANI)