http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-5-2006_pg7_13
Yet, Pakistan aint doing enough!
Yet, Pakistan aint doing enough!
BRUSSELS: NATO is negotiating with Pakistan to ensure transit rights for its troops in Afghanistan as the Western alliance expands its Afghan peacekeeping mission into the restive border region between the two countries, an official said on Wednesday.
“As the alliance moves ... south, Pakistan plays an important role,” NATO chief spokesman James Appathurai said. “It’s important that we do have these political and military ties.”
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan is expanding from its bases in the north and west into southern Afghanistan, largely replacing the US-led forces there. The alliance plans to complete its expansion later this year by also moving its peacekeepers into the eastern sector.
Both regions share a long and volatile border with Pakistan.
Appathurai told reporters such transit arrangements may be completed soon following talks in Pakistan in recent days between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and a senior NATO delegation.
“Pakistan of course wants ISAF to succeed,” Appathurai said. “And they are certainly looking at this in a very positive sense, so I expect it will be concluded without delay.”
As part of the plan to fortify ties, NATO aims to post a liaison officer in Islamabad and will offer places at its elite military schools in Europe to Pakistani officers, Appathurai said.
NATO already has transit arrangements with former Soviet republics north of Afghanistan to support its peacekeeping operation, but has no such deal to date with Pakistan. However, it has developed closer relations with Islamabad since sending hundreds of military engineers and medics to Azad Kashmir to help with the aftermath of last year’s earthquake disaster.
Appathurai said the expansion of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan would mean the alliance would need to build contacts with other nations in the region such as India or China. AP
“As the alliance moves ... south, Pakistan plays an important role,” NATO chief spokesman James Appathurai said. “It’s important that we do have these political and military ties.”
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan is expanding from its bases in the north and west into southern Afghanistan, largely replacing the US-led forces there. The alliance plans to complete its expansion later this year by also moving its peacekeepers into the eastern sector.
Both regions share a long and volatile border with Pakistan.
Appathurai told reporters such transit arrangements may be completed soon following talks in Pakistan in recent days between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and a senior NATO delegation.
“Pakistan of course wants ISAF to succeed,” Appathurai said. “And they are certainly looking at this in a very positive sense, so I expect it will be concluded without delay.”
As part of the plan to fortify ties, NATO aims to post a liaison officer in Islamabad and will offer places at its elite military schools in Europe to Pakistani officers, Appathurai said.
NATO already has transit arrangements with former Soviet republics north of Afghanistan to support its peacekeeping operation, but has no such deal to date with Pakistan. However, it has developed closer relations with Islamabad since sending hundreds of military engineers and medics to Azad Kashmir to help with the aftermath of last year’s earthquake disaster.
Appathurai said the expansion of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan would mean the alliance would need to build contacts with other nations in the region such as India or China. AP
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