Jan 31 , 2016
News
‘Zarb-e-Azb has reduced militants’ ability to use Pakistani soil’
US commander says military offensive is critical to defeating terrorismWASHINGTON - A top US military commander has lauded the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb military operation in Pakistan, saying it has reduced militants’ ability to use the country’s territory for terrorist activities.
“The military operation being carried out by the Pakistan Army in the tribal region is critical to defeating terrorism,” Commander-designate US and coalition forces in Afghanistan - Lt Gen John Nicholson - said in a written response to a question by the US Senate Armed Services Committee.
“The improved coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan along their common border is important to counter-terrorism operations,” Radio Pakistan quoted the US commander as saying.
Nicholson further said that the US had always urged the military forces of both the neighbouring countries to work more closely against the common enemy.
Regarding the Afghan government’s reconciliation process with the Taliban - he termed it an Afghan-led effort - which was recently restarted with a quadrilateral meeting with Pakistan, US and China.
Terming the Afghan reconciliation as the path towards a negotiated settlement, the US army commander said it would bring peace and prosperity to Afghanistan by ending the decades-long conflict.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk