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Pak, Afghan, US, NATO review plan for NATO-ISAF expansion

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, June 7, IRNA
Pakistan-Tripartite commission
Senior military and diplomatic representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the coalition forces in Afghanistan and NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Tuesday reviewed plans to extend the reach of the government of Afghanistan through greater NATO-ISAF presence in the south.

The 17th meeting of the Tripartite Commission, composed of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the coalition forces in Afghanistan, was the first such meeting attended by NATO-ISAF as a full member of the Tripartite Commission.

NATO and ISAF agreed that the NATO-ISAF's expanded role in the Tripartite Commission is very important to ensuring effective coordination in this region, a Pakistan Army statement said.

NATO-ISAF assumes control of international military forces operating in southern Afghanistan this summer.

The session began with a presentation by the coalition's Counter-Improved Explosive Device (C-IED) Working Group that explained the results of a recently completed symposium at Bagram, Afghanistan, at which coalition, Afghan and Pakistani forces reviewed the latest procedures and training related to IED defeat systems, the statement said.

Following the C-IED presentation, the Military Intelligence- Sharing Working Group gave a briefing on the latest efforts to connect all parties to a common intelligence-sharing database, providing a common view of enemy intentions and activities, it said.

The briefing was followed by a Border Security Subcommittee discussion of progress made during the group's first-ever meeting in late May that addressed the southern Afghanistan-Pakistan border area.

The May meeting marked a significant step in coordinating security operations along the border area.

Following the discussion, the Afghanistan, Pakistan and coalition delegations each presented after-action reports on Operation Mountain Lion, the operation to deny sanctuary and safe haven to their common enemy and to improve the lives of the Afghan people through various reconstruction projects and humanitarian assistance.

The operations were jointly planned and executed operations among coalition, Afghanistan and Pakistan forces.

The parties discussed both success stories and lessons learned for improving coordinated efforts in future operations.

The Tripartite Commission will meet again in August 2006 in Afghanistan.

Delegates included Major General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, director general of military operations of the Pakistan Army, Lieutenant General Sher M. Karimi, director of operations of the Afghan National Army, Lieutenant General Karl W. Eikenberry, commander of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan and Lieutenant General David Richards, commander of NATO-ISAF.

2020/235/2321/1414