Pak, U.S. consider joint campaign against Haqqanis, Afghan Taliban

Lahore, Aug.5 (ANI): American and Pakistani officials are considering launching joint counter-terrorism campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan against the Haqqani network and the Afghan Taliban.

According to the Daily Times, the campaigns would help to stamp out major security threats facing both countries, targeting what the U.S. says are sanctuaries for the Haqqani network in Pakistan, and what Pakistan says are sanctuaries for the Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan.

"It's a good beginning," said Vali Nasr, a former top U.S. State Department official.

He pointed out that in previous joint campaigns, Pakistan sought to be involved in all aspects of intelligence gathering. But the U.S. side has looked sceptically at Pakistani requests to share information about coming raids.

"It's always been a sticking point," Nasr said.

The potential plans were discussed in meetings in Washington this week between Pakistan's new ISI chief Lt. Gen. Zaheer-ul-Islam and top Central Intelligence Agency, State Department and Pentagon officials, as well as top lawmakers, the sources said.

Until now, counter-terrorism negotiations between the two sides had been largely on hold after a deadly U.S. air raid killed 24 Pakistani troops near the Afghan border in November last year. (ANI)