Friday, October 31, 2008

A New Era In U.S./ Afghan/Pakistan Cooperation

Talks: Afghan tribal leaders listen to an opening speech at a two-day jirga that ended Tuesday. The delegates agreed to seek negotiations with Taliban militants. Anjum Naveed/AP

Beneath US-Pakistani Tension, A New Cooperation -- Christian Science Monitor

Joint efforts include setting up coordination centers along the Afghan-Pakistani border.

Bagram, Afghanistan - Amid stories of missile strikes and firefights between Pakistani and American forces on the Afghan border, Brig. Gen. Mark Milley has his own to tell.

Two weeks ago, insurgents in Pakistan lobbed mortars at US forces in Afghanistan. When the Americans alerted the Pakistani Army, its response was unambiguous. Not only could the US fire back, but Pakistani soldiers acted as spotters.

It is one small example of how Pakistan is starting to cooperate more with the US and Afghanistan in fighting the insurgency in its tribal areas. Attempts to find solutions jointly are being made across a wide spectrum, from the opening of border coordination centers shared by the three nations' armies to talks among tribal leaders.

The shift is born of a growing recognition in the Pakistani Army of the danger of the insurgency, as well as thawing relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Read more ....

My Comment: Let's hope this trend continues.

No comments: