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Gates backs Afghan border strikes | Gates backs Afghan border strikes |
(20 minutes later) | |
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has defended the right of American forces to strike at militants on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border. | US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has defended the right of American forces to strike at militants on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border. |
Asked by the BBC if Pakistan had authorised such air strikes, he said that the US would take "whatever actions necessary" in self-defence. | Asked by the BBC if Pakistan had authorised such air strikes, he said that the US would take "whatever actions necessary" in self-defence. |
Washington would prefer for Pakistan to tackle militants itself, he added. | Washington would prefer for Pakistan to tackle militants itself, he added. |
Mr Gates, fresh from a visit to Afghanistan, is in London for talks with other Nato ministers. | Mr Gates, fresh from a visit to Afghanistan, is in London for talks with other Nato ministers. |
Earlier on Thursday, he said that increasing militant violence there might prompt a change in US strategy, but gave no details. | Earlier on Thursday, he said that increasing militant violence there might prompt a change in US strategy, but gave no details. |
Last week, America's top general called for a new strategy to cover both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. | Last week, America's top general called for a new strategy to cover both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. |
Recent cross-border US raids on militants have been condemned by Pakistan's new government, which insists it will not allow foreign forces on to its territory. | Recent cross-border US raids on militants have been condemned by Pakistan's new government, which insists it will not allow foreign forces on to its territory. |
'Whatever necessary' | 'Whatever necessary' |
Speaking to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, Mr Gates welcomed the Pakistani army's "much more aggressive" approach to militants along the border in recent weeks. | Speaking to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, Mr Gates welcomed the Pakistani army's "much more aggressive" approach to militants along the border in recent weeks. |
Robert Gates speaks to the BBC | |
He said the militants were the "common enemy" of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and US troops and their allies. | He said the militants were the "common enemy" of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and US troops and their allies. |
"Our goal is to partner with the Pakistanis and enable them to deal with this threat on the border themselves," he said. | "Our goal is to partner with the Pakistanis and enable them to deal with this threat on the border themselves," he said. |
Had the Pakistani government authorised US air strikes on Pakistani territory, our correspondent asked. | Had the Pakistani government authorised US air strikes on Pakistani territory, our correspondent asked. |
"I wouldn't go in that direction," Mr Gates replied. | "I wouldn't go in that direction," Mr Gates replied. |
"I would just say that we will take whatever action necessary to protect our troops." | "I would just say that we will take whatever action necessary to protect our troops." |
'Safe havens' | 'Safe havens' |
Speaking to reporters earlier, Mr Gates said that strategy in Afghanistan had to be adjusted "continually, based on the circumstances that you find". | Speaking to reporters earlier, Mr Gates said that strategy in Afghanistan had to be adjusted "continually, based on the circumstances that you find". |
"We did that in Iraq," he added. "We made a change in strategy in Iraq and we are going to continue to look at the situation in Afghanistan." | "We did that in Iraq," he added. "We made a change in strategy in Iraq and we are going to continue to look at the situation in Afghanistan." |
Addressing a Congressional committee last Thursday, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm Mike Mullen, called for a new strategy in Afghanistan to deny militants bases across the border in Pakistan. | Addressing a Congressional committee last Thursday, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm Mike Mullen, called for a new strategy in Afghanistan to deny militants bases across the border in Pakistan. |
The US must work closely with Pakistan to "eliminate [the enemy's] safe havens", he said. | The US must work closely with Pakistan to "eliminate [the enemy's] safe havens", he said. |
The strategy for Afghanistan is a priority for Gen David Petraeus, due to oversee US military operations throughout the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as head of Central Command from the end of October. | The strategy for Afghanistan is a priority for Gen David Petraeus, due to oversee US military operations throughout the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as head of Central Command from the end of October. |
Speaking recently to the BBC, the former US commander in Iraq said he had to turn around the Nato mission in Afghanistan, where the trend was "in the wrong direction". | Speaking recently to the BBC, the former US commander in Iraq said he had to turn around the Nato mission in Afghanistan, where the trend was "in the wrong direction". |
Casualty concern | Casualty concern |
Mr Gates told the BBC that the US tried to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. He accused the Taleban of using them as human shields. | Mr Gates told the BBC that the US tried to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. He accused the Taleban of using them as human shields. |
The issue has caused increasing anger in Afghanistan. | The issue has caused increasing anger in Afghanistan. |
US forces have promised to review an inquiry into an air raid last month in the province of Herat which was blamed for the deaths of scores of civilians. | US forces have promised to review an inquiry into an air raid last month in the province of Herat which was blamed for the deaths of scores of civilians. |
Figures released by the UN on Tuesday showed that there had been a sharp increase in the number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan this year. | Figures released by the UN on Tuesday showed that there had been a sharp increase in the number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan this year. |
About 200 foreign soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year - about the same number as died during the whole of last year. | About 200 foreign soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year - about the same number as died during the whole of last year. |
A bomb attack killed four US soldiers and an Afghan national in the east of the country on Wednesday. | A bomb attack killed four US soldiers and an Afghan national in the east of the country on Wednesday. |
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