U.S. offers Pak joint offensive against TTP

Islamabad, June 28 (ANI): The U.S. has offered Pakistan to conduct a joint military offensive against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) along the Pak-Afghan border, in a move indicating that the two estranged allies have sought to cooperate in specific areas despite worsening ties.

However, according to diplomatic sources, the offer is linked with the Pakistani military agreeing to eliminate alleged sanctuaries of the Haqqani network on its side of the border, reports The Express Tribune.

The offer was made during talks between U.S. General John Allen, who is leading NATO -led U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, in Rawalpindi.

A military official said General Kayani demanded greater efforts from the Americans on stopping cross-border incursions.

"We also raised the issue of cross-border attacks on the Pakistani military from Afghanistan. We demanded that ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) take action against militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan and eliminate the militant groups involved in cross-border attacks inside Pakistan," he added.

Pakistan said around 100 Afghan-based militants crossed the border into the northwestern district of Upper Dir on Sunday. Six soldiers were killed and 11 went missing.

A senior security official confirmed that all 17 had been beheaded after the TTP released a video showing the slaughtered heads.

But both the Afghans and the Americans repeatedly blame Pakistan for not doing more to eliminate havens on its soil, which are used as launch pads for attacks across the border. (ANI)