WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has authorized its commanders in theregion to take action against terrorists both in Afghanistan and Pakistan,says White House
A press release issued by the White House on Tuesday stated, “PresidentTrump’s conditions-based South Asia Strategy provides commanders with theauthority and resources needed to deny terrorists the safe haven they seekin Afghanistan and Pakistan”.
In August, Trump unveiled the strategy and vowed to defeat theterrorists on the battlefield. He said “From now on, victory will have aclear definition: attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS, crushing AlQaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stoppingmass terror attacks against America”.
The White House in the statement further said, “President Trump is makingclear to our allies that they cannot be America’s friend while supportingor condoning terror. The President has suspended security assistance toPakistan, sending a long overdue message to aid recipients that we expectthem to fully join us in combatting terrorism”.
Following the strategy, the suspected US drone strikes on Pakistanterritory increased, as a result of which terrorists of different outfits,including Haqqani Network and Taliban, were reportedly killed.
However, the US authorities did not give any official statement regardingthe drone attacks in Pakistan. Recently, a drone attack in Kurram regionreportedly killed Haqqani Network commander Ehsan alias Khawari and his twocompanions.
Later, Pakistan condemned what it said was a US military drone strikeinside its territory. The unmanned aircraft’s missiles “targeted an Afghanrefugee” camp in northwestern Kurram region.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, in a statement, said: “Suchunilateral actions, as that of today, are detrimental to the spirit ofcooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism”.
However, United States labelled Pakistan’s allegation of striking an Afghanrefugee camp near Kurram Agency in a drone attack as “false”.
“The claim in an MFA statement yesterday that US forces struck an Afghanrefugee camp in Kurram Agency yesterday is false,” the US said.