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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US to focus on Pakistani border | US to focus on Pakistani border |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff has argued for a new strategy in Afghanistan which will deny militants bases across the border in Pakistan. | The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff has argued for a new strategy in Afghanistan which will deny militants bases across the border in Pakistan. |
| "I'm not convinced we are winning it in Afghanistan," Admiral Mike Mullen told a US House of Representatives hearing as he outlined the Pentagon's thinking. | "I'm not convinced we are winning it in Afghanistan," Admiral Mike Mullen told a US House of Representatives hearing as he outlined the Pentagon's thinking. |
| Adm Mullen said the US must work closely with Pakistan to "eliminate [the enemy's] safe havens". | Adm Mullen said the US must work closely with Pakistan to "eliminate [the enemy's] safe havens". |
| Pakistan insists it will not allow foreign forces on to its territory. | Pakistan insists it will not allow foreign forces on to its territory. |
| "There is no question of any agreement or understanding with the coalition forces whereby they are allowed to conduct operations on our side of the border," said Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. | "There is no question of any agreement or understanding with the coalition forces whereby they are allowed to conduct operations on our side of the border," said Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. |
| Adm Mullen was speaking a day after US President George W Bush announced that about 4,500 extra US troops would be sent to Afghanistan by February 2009, boosting the 33,000 currently in the country. | Adm Mullen was speaking a day after US President George W Bush announced that about 4,500 extra US troops would be sent to Afghanistan by February 2009, boosting the 33,000 currently in the country. |
| 'Inextricably linked' | 'Inextricably linked' |
| Relations between the US and Pakistan have been strained by US-led cross-border operations against Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in which Pakistani civilians and members of the Pakistani security forces were killed or injured. | Relations between the US and Pakistan have been strained by US-led cross-border operations against Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in which Pakistani civilians and members of the Pakistani security forces were killed or injured. |
| Until we work more closely with the Pakistani government to eliminate the safe havens from which they operate, the enemy will only keep coming Adm Mike Mullen class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7609262.stm">Deadly attack on Pakistan mosque | |
| The alleged deaths of civilians as a result of US actions in Afghanistan have also created tension between Washington and Kabul. | The alleged deaths of civilians as a result of US actions in Afghanistan have also created tension between Washington and Kabul. |
| Adm Mullen was giving evidence to the House Armed Services Committee months before the seventh anniversary of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taleban and pursue al-Qaeda, | Adm Mullen was giving evidence to the House Armed Services Committee months before the seventh anniversary of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taleban and pursue al-Qaeda, |
| He argued that militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan were waging a common fight. | He argued that militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan were waging a common fight. |
| "In my view, these two nations are inextricably linked in a common insurgency that crosses the border between them," he said. | "In my view, these two nations are inextricably linked in a common insurgency that crosses the border between them," he said. |
| "We can hunt down and kill extremists as they cross over the border from Pakistan... but until we work more closely with the Pakistani government to eliminate the safe havens from which they operate, the enemy will only keep coming." | "We can hunt down and kill extremists as they cross over the border from Pakistan... but until we work more closely with the Pakistani government to eliminate the safe havens from which they operate, the enemy will only keep coming." |
| Adm Mullen conceded the challenge was great, pointing to Afghanistan's drugs and economic problems, and the "significant political uncertainty" in Pakistan. | Adm Mullen conceded the challenge was great, pointing to Afghanistan's drugs and economic problems, and the "significant political uncertainty" in Pakistan. |
| 'Reckless actions' | 'Reckless actions' |
| However, Pakistan's military chief said in a statement that his country's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" would be "defended at all cost". | However, Pakistan's military chief said in a statement that his country's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" would be "defended at all cost". |
| Gen Kayani also expressed concern about an alleged cross-border raid by foreign troops on 4 September in which at least 15 Pakistani villagers were killed. | Gen Kayani also expressed concern about an alleged cross-border raid by foreign troops on 4 September in which at least 15 Pakistani villagers were killed. |
| "Such reckless actions only help the militants and further fuel the militancy in the area," he was quoted as saying. | "Such reckless actions only help the militants and further fuel the militancy in the area," he was quoted as saying. |
| In another development, Canada confirmed its troops would leave Afghanistan by 2011. | In another development, Canada confirmed its troops would leave Afghanistan by 2011. |
| Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Wednesday that his nation - which suffered significant losses in Afghanistan in recent years - had no appetite for keeping its troops on in Afghanistan past a 2011 deadline imposed in March by parliament. | Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Wednesday that his nation - which suffered significant losses in Afghanistan in recent years - had no appetite for keeping its troops on in Afghanistan past a 2011 deadline imposed in March by parliament. |
| "You have to put an end date on these things," he told Canadian reporters. | "You have to put an end date on these things," he told Canadian reporters. |
| "We intend to end it." | "We intend to end it." |