Nato ex-commander warns Pakistan on porous border
WASHINGTON: Islamic fighters are still entering Afghanistan from Pakistan, despite a deal between Islamabad and tribal chiefs meant to cut down the incursions, Natoââ¬â¢s former top general has warned.
General James Jones, who handed over to General John Craddock as supreme allied commander Europe this month, said the western allianceââ¬â¢s political leadership would raise the issue with Pakistan unless things improved.
Pakistanââ¬â¢s government signed peace deals in September with tribal elders along the border, saying the move would help stem the flow of Taliban fighters entering Afghanistan to battle western troops.
But Jones said yesterday, during an appearance at the Atlantic council of the United States think-tank, he had discussed the situation frankly with General Ehsan ul Haq, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Pakistanââ¬â¢s military staff last month.
"I told him that the returns did not really look too encouraging, given the porous nature of the borders and some very physical evidence that fighters were still coming across and returning rather freely across the many border crossings that are there," Jones said.
"I think that from the political side that Nato will be heard through the Secretary General on this issue if it continues to be a significant problem," said Jones.
"The problem of the Taliban is not an Afghan problem alone. This could be a Pakistani problem if Afghanistan doesnââ¬â¢t work out the way we want it to."
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=106442
WASHINGTON: Islamic fighters are still entering Afghanistan from Pakistan, despite a deal between Islamabad and tribal chiefs meant to cut down the incursions, Natoââ¬â¢s former top general has warned.
General James Jones, who handed over to General John Craddock as supreme allied commander Europe this month, said the western allianceââ¬â¢s political leadership would raise the issue with Pakistan unless things improved.
Pakistanââ¬â¢s government signed peace deals in September with tribal elders along the border, saying the move would help stem the flow of Taliban fighters entering Afghanistan to battle western troops.
But Jones said yesterday, during an appearance at the Atlantic council of the United States think-tank, he had discussed the situation frankly with General Ehsan ul Haq, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Pakistanââ¬â¢s military staff last month.
"I told him that the returns did not really look too encouraging, given the porous nature of the borders and some very physical evidence that fighters were still coming across and returning rather freely across the many border crossings that are there," Jones said.
"I think that from the political side that Nato will be heard through the Secretary General on this issue if it continues to be a significant problem," said Jones.
"The problem of the Taliban is not an Afghan problem alone. This could be a Pakistani problem if Afghanistan doesnââ¬â¢t work out the way we want it to."
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=106442
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