ejaz007
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US gives up ground raids into Pakistan
* NYT report says White House now relying on CIA Predator airstrikes in Tribal Areas
LAHORE: The United States is refraining from using its special forces on Pakistani territory following a raid nearly two months ago that resulted in civilian casualties and vehement protests from Islamabad, The New York Times (NYT) reported on its website late Sunday.
The White House has backed away from using American commandoes for further ground raids into Pakistan after furious complaints from its government, relying instead on an intensifying campaign of airstrikes by the Central Intelligence Agency against militants in the Pakistani mountains, the report said.
There were at least 18 Predator strikes since the beginning of August, some deep inside Pakistans tribal areas, compared with five strikes during the first seven months of 2008, the report noted. Many of the Predator strikes were taking place as deep as 25 miles into Pakistani territory, not just along the border.
The report said US officials had complained that relying on airstrikes alone, the US would be unable to weaken Al Qaedas grip in the Tribal Areas.
It said that following a US attack on September 3, National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani made an unannounced visit to Washington and expressed Pakistans anger in person to top White House officials, including his counterpart Stephen Hadley.
It said Pentagon officials had publicly praised the Pakistan Armys aggressive campaign against the Taliban in Bajaur Agency. However, some US officials were wincing at a full-scale military operation taking a heavy toll on civilians.
They dont have a concept of counter-insurgency operations, one senior US official said. Its generally a heavy punch and then they leave. daily times monitor
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
* NYT report says White House now relying on CIA Predator airstrikes in Tribal Areas
LAHORE: The United States is refraining from using its special forces on Pakistani territory following a raid nearly two months ago that resulted in civilian casualties and vehement protests from Islamabad, The New York Times (NYT) reported on its website late Sunday.
The White House has backed away from using American commandoes for further ground raids into Pakistan after furious complaints from its government, relying instead on an intensifying campaign of airstrikes by the Central Intelligence Agency against militants in the Pakistani mountains, the report said.
There were at least 18 Predator strikes since the beginning of August, some deep inside Pakistans tribal areas, compared with five strikes during the first seven months of 2008, the report noted. Many of the Predator strikes were taking place as deep as 25 miles into Pakistani territory, not just along the border.
The report said US officials had complained that relying on airstrikes alone, the US would be unable to weaken Al Qaedas grip in the Tribal Areas.
It said that following a US attack on September 3, National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani made an unannounced visit to Washington and expressed Pakistans anger in person to top White House officials, including his counterpart Stephen Hadley.
It said Pentagon officials had publicly praised the Pakistan Armys aggressive campaign against the Taliban in Bajaur Agency. However, some US officials were wincing at a full-scale military operation taking a heavy toll on civilians.
They dont have a concept of counter-insurgency operations, one senior US official said. Its generally a heavy punch and then they leave. daily times monitor
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan