 There has been a spike in mortar and rocket attacks from militants in Pakistan at United States and Afghan border outposts in Afghanistan, the top NATO commander said on Wednesday. US General David D McKiernan said he presumed that militants think they were safer because they were firing from the Pakistani territory. But McKiernan, who took command of the 40-nation NATO-led mission in early June, said US and NATO forces have been "returning fire".
| I'm guessing more accurately than the fire they're receiving. |
"I'm not sure that's the case, that they're any safer, because we do return those fires," in co-ordination with Pakistan's military, said McKiernan. He did not have figures, but said "there definitely has been an increase (in cross-border attacks) since I've been here in the last 30 days". McKiernan said the number of attacks had risen because militant groups had been free to operate in Pakistan's Tribal Areas and cross the Afghanistan-Pakistan border unimpeded. |