U.S. Military to Allow Closer Coordination with Pakistan After Deadly Border Incident

U.S. military officials have indicated willingness to share necessary information on America's operations in areas spanning the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan in attempts to salvage strained relationship with Islamabad over a deadly air strike last month that killed Pakistani troops.

In a statement, General James Mattis, chief of the U.S. Central Command, acknowledged that more trust and openness are needed to regain the confidence and cooperation of the Pakistani authorities following the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers killed during a U.S.-led attack in November.

In an earlier probe of the incident, U.S. authorities have admitted that communication breakdown between the U.S military command and its Pakistani counterparts resulted to the misunderstanding that led to the accidental encounter.

While conceding that it erred in ordering the air strikes on an ally, U.S. officials insisted that the counterattack was issued after U.S. soldiers were barraged with heavy firing from the Pakistani side.

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Islamabad, however, flatly rejected America's assertions and insisted that U.S. President Barack Obama needs to issue a formal apology.

Washington has yet to indicate anything positive if Obama would be willing to accede to the Pakistani demands if only to save its relationship with an ally it deems important in hunting down terrorists believe to be hiding in the Afghan-Pakistani border.

Mattis, however, already ordered U.S. and NATO troops operating in the region to make amends by coordinating closely with Pakistani authorities.

His new operational directive includes closer cooperation in furnishing updates and organising scheduled visits that will be characterised by "full disclosure of all border area facilities and installations on both sides of the border."

Mattis also ordered commanding generals on the U.S. and NATO side to "clarify authorities, responsibilities, and standard operating procedures in the area."

Such adjustments, he stressed, were important in order for both sides to eliminate the possibility of further conflicts in the future.

"The strongest take-away from this incident is the fundamental fact that we must improve border coordination and this requires a foundational level of trust on both sides of the border," Mattis was quoted by AFP as saying in his new directive.

His statement was made public in light of recent suspensions of CIA-operated spy drones missions in the area as well as fine-tuning of military, intelligence and logistic operations being conducted by the United States in the regions to neutralise terror activities.

The U.S. probe on the incident, issued last week, also hinted that military aid extended to Islamabad will also decrease dramatically.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/272859/20111227/u-s-military-allow-closer-coordination-pakistan.htm

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