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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| US to focus on Pakistani border | US to focus on Pakistani border |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff has called 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 called for a new strategy in Afghanistan which will deny militants bases across the border in Pakistan. |
| Adm Mike Mullen said he had asked for a "a new, more comprehensive military strategy for the region that covers both sides of that border". | Adm Mike Mullen said he had asked for a "a new, more comprehensive military strategy for the region that covers both sides of that border". |
| The US must work closely with Pakistan to "eliminate [the enemy's] safe havens", he told Congress. | The US must work closely with Pakistan to "eliminate [the enemy's] safe havens", he told Congress. |
| 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. |
| A surge of US attacks in Pakistan's border region over the past week has prompted outrage from the government and army. | |
| Now stating it as a strategy will only add to the pressure on Pakistan's new President, Asif Ali Zardari, as he grapples with the militants, the BBC's James Coomarasamy reports from Washington. | |
| 'Inextricably linked' | 'Inextricably linked' |
| 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. | |
| 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 Deadly attack on Pakistan mosque | 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 Deadly attack on Pakistan mosque |
| Addressing the House Armed Services Committee, 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 a 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. |
| The army spokesman said the general had aimed to dispel impressions in the media that he had granted permission for US raids. | |
| 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." |