US INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN AGAINST HAQANI
NETWORK
The
United States has intensified its drive against the Taliban linked Haqani network
in an attempt to deal a lasting blow to the militants in Afghanistan before
foreign combat forces depart this years.
The
effort is taking on added urgency as the
clock ticks down on a NATO combat mission in Afghanistan asset to end in
December, whether Pakistan will take action against a group. The Obama
administration has created a special u nit based in Kabul to coordinate efforts
against the militant group, according to the US officials with the matter.
It
was not immediately clear whether the intensified focus on the Haqanis has led
to increased strikes on the group by the US military or the CIA which operates
drones over Pakistan’s tribal areas. It remains to be seen this late in the
NATO combat mission how much damages the United States can inflict on the
Haqani Network, which has proven resilient and uses Pakistan’s tribal areas
along the Afghan border, including the North Waziristan region, as a sanctuary.
It
was announced from the White House on Tuesday
and ordered by the US President to the Pentagon to prepare for possible
complete withdrawal of troops following Afghan president’s refusal to sin g a
bilateral security pact. The Haqani network, which professes obedience to
Taliban leader Mullah Omar is believed to have been involved in some of the Afghan war.
