US Generals given free hand to strike terrorists in Pakistan if deemed necessary
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WASHINGTON: The Trump administration’s South Asia strategy provides US commanders in the region complete authority to ‘deal with terrorist safe havens in both Afghanistan and Pakistan’, according to a White House statement.
A local English daily <link> reports that the United States (US) strategy announced by Trump last year highlighted the US conviction to deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan and make them succumb to the Afghan government.
The Trump administration recently also increased drone strikes at the alleged terrorist safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with reports emerging that several ‘commanders’ of the dreaded Haqqani network also got killed in those attacks. But this is the first time that any US administration has ever spoken of authorising its field commanders to deal with the alleged safe havens inside Pakistan.
White House released a document on Tuesday night indicating that American commanders in the region also had the authority to deal with alleged terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan.
“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,” it stated. “President Trump is making clear to our allies that they cannot be America’s friend while supporting or condoning terror.”
The White House also mentioned an executive order, issued earlier this month, to suspend security aid to Pakistan, saying: “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 combating terrorism.”
