Pentagon spokesman George Little – File photo by AP
Pentagon spokesman George Little – File photo by AP

WASHINGTON: Observing that the United States' relations with Pakistan are settling back into normal phase of cooperation, Washington on Wednesday said that it is working with both Islamabad and Kabul to contain violence along their porous border.

“Well, we're working closely with both countries, obviously, to try to limit violence along the Afghan-Pakistan border,” a Pentagon spokesman said, amid weeks of complaining from both sides about cross-border attacks along the restive Durrand Line.

Pakistan has asked Kabul to act against safe havens of Pakistani militants in its eastern Kunar and Nooristan provinces, in the backdrop of more than a dozen cross-border assaults that have killed over 100 people, including civilians and security forces. Reports say Mullah Fazlullah and other militants, who fled the Pakistani counterterrorism operations in Swat and Bajuar, have found refuge across the border in Afghanistan.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said “We are settling back into a normal phase of cooperation with our Pakistani partners. And border coordination, we believe, is improving.”

In answering a question, Little saw no change in the US-led allies' Afghan mission.

“In our estimation, I'm not sure there's any particular change to the mission in Afghanistan. We're carrying out the mission as we've designed it,” said Little.

“We're moving quickly and prudently toward implementation of the improvement of Afghan national security force capabilities. And, of course, we're following the Lisbon timeline toward the end of 2014,” he added, referring to the deadline set by Nato on transfer of full security responsibility to Afghans and end to combat mission in the conflict-ridden country.

Opinion

Editorial

Tribunals’ failure
Updated 19 Nov, 2024

Tribunals’ failure

With election tribunals having failed to fulfil their purpose, it isn't surprising that Pakistan has not been able to stabilise.
Balochistan MPC
19 Nov, 2024

Balochistan MPC

WHILE immediate threats to law and order must be confronted by security forces, the long-term solution to...
Firm tax measures
19 Nov, 2024

Firm tax measures

FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is ready to employ force to make everyone and every sector in Pakistan pay their...
When medicine fails
Updated 18 Nov, 2024

When medicine fails

Between now and 2050, medical experts expect antibiotic resistance to kill 40m people worldwide.
Nawaz on India
Updated 18 Nov, 2024

Nawaz on India

Nawaz Sharif’s hopes of better ties with India can only be realised when New Delhi responds to Pakistan positively.
State of abuse
18 Nov, 2024

State of abuse

The state must accept that crimes against children have become endemic in the country.