Acting US AfPak envoy arrives today

ISLAMABAD: Acting US special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Frank Ruggiero is arriving in Islamabad on his maiden visit to the region on Wednesday (today). Diplomatic sources say that Frank Ruggiero assumed the post of Acting US special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan following the death of predecessor Richard Holbrooke last month.

According to the diplomatic sources Ruggiero, who was Holbrooke’s deputy until the death of the veteran diplomat would arrive in Pakistan on January 5 (today) amid political chaos in the country. During his visit, the US envoy will hold talks with the country’s top political and military leadership on the current security situation in the region. Sources added that during his stay Pakistani leadership would again comment on unremitting drone attacks in the country, war against terrorism, needs of Pakistan besides political turmoil that has heated up the country in frosty conditions in Pakistan since last few days. -Agencies

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Securing AfPak border, a tall order: Pentagon

WASHINGTON: Acknowledging that terrorist have a safe haven inside the tribal areas of Pakistan from where they operate and cross over to Afghanistan, a top Pentagon official said that it would be a tough job to seal the AfPak border.
“As far as the border itself, I think it is naive to say that we can stop, you know, forces coming through the border,” said Col Viet Luong Commander, Task Force Rakkasan and 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.
“In order to secure the border, as well — as you know, it takes a lot. It takes effort on the other side, by the Pakistanis,” said Luong, who is responsible for eastern Afghanistan which includes the volatile Khost province and 261-km of AfPak border.
In a special video-conferencing with Pentagon reporters from Kabul, he said, “As our footprint is expanded along the security line of effort, it’s harder and harder for these guys to come and bed down in these villages.”

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