US, Pak planning to launch join operation against Taliban on Pak-Afghan border: McChrystal
By ANITuesday, January 5, 2010
ISLAMABAD - General Stanley McChrystal, the top US military commander in Afghanistan, has revealed that Pakistan and the US are planning to take joint military action against the Taliban on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border.
“In fact, we are developing a joint campaign plan so that we approach the entire problem together and as much as possible we can make our efforts synergistic,” The Dawn quoted General McChrystal, as saying after visiting Swat.
He added that Pakistan and the US need to launch coordinated attacks against insurgents on both sides of the border to achieve the real objectives of the war on terror.
“The most important thing we can do is to coordinate our operations with the Pakistan Army and then there is, of course, going to be political coordination,” he said.
Referring to the trust deficit between the two countries, Gen McChrystal said the level of mistrust needed to be narrowed, and differences should not detract them from their aims.
Gen McChrystal urged Pakistan to help the US in dismantling the Haqqani Network and Quetta Shura, which are causing problems inside Afghanistan.
“I’m hopeful of the time when the Haqqani Network, which is causing damage inside Afghanistan, is taken on by both of us jointly to reduce the damage they are causing. It is important that we together do that,” he said.
“Taliban that threaten Afghanistan need to be pressured everywhere. Partnership with Pakistan is the best road to that as we strengthen the strategic partnership that is the best way I think,” he added. (ANI)
