US general acknowledges Pak efforts to combat terrorism

 WASHINGTON: The United States Forces Commander in Afghanistan General John F Campbell has said that Pakistan took significant steps in 2015 to combat terrorism.

The US commander acknowledged Pakistan’s progress against extremism in his farewell address in the Armed Services Committee as commander US Forces in Afghanistan. He mentioned the Operation Zarb-e-Azb and said that key steps in the large scale strike against militants in tribal areas were taken by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif. He urged governments of the neighbouring countries to collaborate to fight the common enemy that has no boundaries.

General Campbell stressed the need for unity between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the war on terror. The US army leader in Afghanistan is about to step down from his 18-month command.

While talking earlier, Campbell had said that eight of the total 407 district centres in Afghanistan were under insurgent control. While talking about the United States’ efforts in the war on terror, he said that al-Qaeda and the Haqqani Network had been weakened but remained threats.