Islamabad and Washington are finding it difficult to agree on the nature of military action in Pakistan’s tribal North Waziristan Agency, official sources said. “This is a new difference. The two have agreed on military operations in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) but they have different views regarding how it should be done,” a senior Pakistan government official told this newspaper.
General John Allen, a top US military commander, had on Thursday postponed a visit to Pakistan aimed at discussing operations in North Waziristan Agency and defence cooperation.
Gen. Allen’s visit was seen as a crucial development to cement the already drawn contours of closer military cooperation between the Pakistan Army and the Western military alliance against the backdrop of Islamabad’s ongoing drive against militancy in its north-western border region.
“The United States wants a full-fledged military operation in NWA but Pakistan wants a targeted operation against the terrorists,” the official said. “Washington believes a full-fledged military operation alone can defeat the Taliban,” he added.
Pakistani security forces feel areas of NWA where Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan militants have been operating after being evicted from adjoining South Waziristan Agency would be targeted.