US Defense Secretary Says Afghan Border Attacks Increasing
16 January 2007
The U.S. defense secretary says an increase in cross-border attacks on Afghanistan by militants from Pakistan is a "problem" that the United States will have to pursue with the Pakistani government.
Robert Gates spoke in Kabul Tuesday, just hours after Pakistani air strikes targeted five suspected al-Qaida camps near the Afghan border, killing up to 30 militants.
Gates met with top Afghan officials, including President Hamid Karzai, and praised the country's efforts to build an army and pursue Taleban militants.
In the past year, U.S. and NATO troops have experienced the deadliest fighting since the Taleban was ousted in 2001.
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry, said today more troops are needed to counter an expected Taleban spring offensive.
Eikenberry said there are about 23,000 U.S. troops in the country - more than ever before - and that their numbers likely will not be reduced this year.
The U.S. military says there were some 16,00 bomb attacks last year, up from 783 in 2005. The number of suicide attacks rose from 27 in 2005 to 139 in 2006.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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