July 31, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1424

BAGRAM, July 30: Washington’s top general said on Wednesday military operations in Iraq would not draw resources away from the fight against “international terrorism” in places like Afghanistan.

“I don’t think the war in Iraq has taken any of the resources away from the fight against international terrorism, specifically Al Qaeda,” Gen Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said while talking to reporters at Bagram air base, north of Kabul, headquarters of the US-led forces in Afghanistan.

“In fact, I think the effort in Iraq has been very complimentary. What we are doing in Afghanistan and what we are doing in Iraq is in many cases the same thing.

“We are denying terrorists sanctuary where they can operate, where they can train and we are denying terrorists getting their hands on weapons of mass destruction.”

Gen Myers added there were no longer large groups of Taliban and Al Qaeda posing a threat to US-led forces.

The Iraq invasion had raised concerns among top Afghan officials that Washington’s commitment to bring stability to Afghanistan would falter. Gen Myers said US would keep its forces, numbering around 10,000, in Afghanistan “until the job is done”. —Reuters