U.S. troops go back to Pakistan

[SpArK]

U.S. troops go back to Pakistan
​

WASHINGTON — The United States said Thursday that Pakistan has let back in two officers to work with its military after a six-month gap, in what it called a small sign of cooperation after soaring tensions.

The Pentagon said that two liaison officers returned in the past week to the northwestern city of Peshawar after being kicked out by Pakistan in its outrage over a border airstrike that killed 24 of its soldiers.

But the Pentagon said that Pakistan has not let back trainers or reopened its border to NATO supplies, two of the main forms of support for the US-led war effort that have been shut down since the November 26 border incident.

The returning officers are in charge of liaising with the headquarters of Pakistan's 11th Corps, which covers the lawless border region where the US-backed ISAF force believes Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters enjoy a safe haven.

"The tactical and operational coordination between the ISAF and Pakistani military is getting better -- in fits and starts, to be sure, but it is getting better," said Pentagon spokesman Captain John Kirby.

"This is another example of how that coordination is going to continue to improve," Kirby told reporters.

Kirby said that the two officers -- who report to the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan -- returned to Peshawar at the request of Pakistan.
Relations between the United States and Pakistan have severely deteriorated in the past year, particularly after US forces discovered and killed Osama bin Laden in the country's military town of Abbottabad in May 2011.
Pakistan has demanded an apology over the November border killings. President Barack Obama has voiced regret, calling the deaths an accident, but stopped short of an apology amid US concerns that Pakistani intelligence elements are supporting extremists.
The NATO alliance invited Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to Chicago for a May 20-21 summit on Afghanistan's future. But the trip ended in debacle, with Obama snubbing Zardari after talks collapsed on reopening the border to NATO.
US lawmakers have since moved to cut aid to Pakistan -- which was totaled more than $18 billion since the September 11, 2001 attacks -- after a court gave a 33-year prison term to a doctor recruited by the CIA to find bin Laden.
Amid the tensions, the United States has stepped up its covert drone attacks inside Pakistan aimed at extremists deep in the tribal region. Pakistani officials said that two strikes on Monday alone killed at least nine militants.
Pakistan's parliament has demanded an end to drone attacks, saying they violate sovereignty and infuriate civilians. But the strikes enjoy wide support in Washington as they cause no US casualties and are seen as the only way to reach most-wanted militants.
However, at least 10 liberal lawmakers from Obama's Democratic Party have signed a letter to the White House voicing concern about what they see as a lack of oversight and accountability over the drone strikes.
Drones "are faceless ambassadors that cause civilian deaths and are frequently the only direct contact with Americans that the targeted communities have. They can generate powerful and enduring anti-American sentiment," said the letter spearheaded by Representatives Dennis Kucinich and John Conyers.


U.S. troops go back to Pakistan - FederalNewsRadio.com

AFP: US says officers return to Pakistan

 

[Bobby]

back to square one

 

[53fd]

U.S. troops go back to Pakistan
​

WASHINGTON — The United States said Thursday that Pakistan has let back in two officers to work with its military after a six-month gap, in what it called a small sign of cooperation after soaring tensions.

The Pentagon said that two liaison officers returned in the past week to the northwestern city of Peshawar after being kicked out by Pakistan in its outrage over a border airstrike that killed 24 of its soldiers.

But the Pentagon said that Pakistan has not let back trainers or reopened its border to NATO supplies, two of the main forms of support for the US-led war effort that have been shut down since the November 26 border incident.

The returning officers are in charge of liaising with the headquarters of Pakistan's 11th Corps, which covers the lawless border region where the US-backed ISAF force believes Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters enjoy a safe haven.

"The tactical and operational coordination between the ISAF and Pakistani military is getting better -- in fits and starts, to be sure, but it is getting better," said Pentagon spokesman Captain John Kirby.

"This is another example of how that coordination is going to continue to improve," Kirby told reporters.

Kirby said that the two officers -- who report to the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan -- returned to Peshawar at the request of Pakistan.
Relations between the United States and Pakistan have severely deteriorated in the past year, particularly after US forces discovered and killed Osama bin Laden in the country's military town of Abbottabad in May 2011.
Pakistan has demanded an apology over the November border killings. President Barack Obama has voiced regret, calling the deaths an accident, but stopped short of an apology amid US concerns that Pakistani intelligence elements are supporting extremists.
The NATO alliance invited Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to Chicago for a May 20-21 summit on Afghanistan's future. But the trip ended in debacle, with Obama snubbing Zardari after talks collapsed on reopening the border to NATO.
US lawmakers have since moved to cut aid to Pakistan -- which was totaled more than $18 billion since the September 11, 2001 attacks -- after a court gave a 33-year prison term to a doctor recruited by the CIA to find bin Laden.
Amid the tensions, the United States has stepped up its covert drone attacks inside Pakistan aimed at extremists deep in the tribal region. Pakistani officials said that two strikes on Monday alone killed at least nine militants.
Pakistan's parliament has demanded an end to drone attacks, saying they violate sovereignty and infuriate civilians. But the strikes enjoy wide support in Washington as they cause no US casualties and are seen as the only way to reach most-wanted militants.
However, at least 10 liberal lawmakers from Obama's Democratic Party have signed a letter to the White House voicing concern about what they see as a lack of oversight and accountability over the drone strikes.
Drones "are faceless ambassadors that cause civilian deaths and are frequently the only direct contact with Americans that the targeted communities have. They can generate powerful and enduring anti-American sentiment," said the letter spearheaded by Representatives Dennis Kucinich and John Conyers.


U.S. troops go back to Pakistan - FederalNewsRadio.com

AFP: US says officers return to Pakistan

Pakistani military denies U.S. military trainers' back - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Pakistan denies reports of US military trainers

 

[Jango]

These are two liaison officers who will be sitting in the Corps HQ all day, and not trainers.

And 2 liaison officers, I think there will be a big eye on them throughout.

So, they aren't troops in the sense that you are posting.

 

[Safriz]

only two liason officers are there as already said.

 

[Areesh]

Two liaison officers = US troops.

 

[T90TankGuy]

^^ what happened to the resolution , which said no co operation with the US till they apologize for the deaths of 26 soldiers?

grow up guys your leaders sell you out on a daily basis and then lie to your faces.

 

[Areesh]

^^ what happened to the resolution , which said no co operation with the US till they apologize for the deaths of 26 soldiers?

grow up guys your leaders sell you out on a daily basis and then lie to your faces.

What about you Indians every other day predictions that supply routes would be reopened "very soon".

An these two are just liaison officers. Not a big deal.

 

[Haseebullah]

Liaison officers and the Indians are back in business of mudslinging!
They are probably there to improve the channel of communications in hope of strengthening the relationship between Pakistan and US!

 

[SMC]

You ought to love the bharatis and their obvious lack of basic rational thinking.

These guys continue to suggest Pakistan is some sort of US lapdog and takes all its orders from the US.

On the other hand, Pakistan supports Taliban, Haqqanis, Al Qaeda, protected OBL, yadi yada.

Seriously, can these guys not see the obvious contradiction?

The funny thing is that they DON'T see the obvious contradiction unless someone points it out to them. Some self-made masters of logic these guys are.

 

[pakdefender]

lol @ 2 laison officer = US troops back in Pakistan

bharatis cant do any thing to Pakistan themselves so they take comfort in thinking that america will do so on their behalf
funny thing is that amrican feels the same way that its india that will do damge to Pakistan on their behalf ... end result is ... EPIC FAIL