Commanders authorized to deal with terror sanctuaries in Afghanistan, Pakistan: US

By Khaama Press - Thu Feb 01 2018, 8:58 pm

The new strategy for South Asia authorizes the US military commanders to act against the terror sanctuaries both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the White House has said.

According to a statement by White House “President Trump’s conditions-based South Asia Strategy provides commanders with the authority and resources needed to deny terrorists the safe haven they seek in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

The statement further adds that “The President has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, sending a long overdue message to aid recipients that we expect them to fully join us in combatting terrorism.”

This comes as President Trump announced the new US strategy for South Asia late in August last year as he insisted on relentless fight to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

President Trump also harshly criticized Pakistan for harboring the terrorist groups in its soil and said ““For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror.”

Since the announcement of the new strategy for South Asia, the US military has reportedly carried out a series of airstrikes in the tribal regions of Pakistan close to the Durand Line with Afghanistan.

Earlier, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Mike Pampeo had warned that the US would take necessary steps if Pakistan fails to take actions against the safe havens of the terror groups.

“We are doing our best to inform the Pakistanis that this is no longer going to be acceptable. So this conditioned aid, we have given them a chance. If they fix this problem, we are happy to continue to engage with them and be their partner. But if they don’t, we’re going to protect America,” Pampeo told CBS in an interview earlier last month.

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