RAWALPINDI, Jan 11: Pakistan’s anti-militant policy has been lauded by the head of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) Commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Richards. He did not mince words in stating before the Pakistani and international media that with an enhanced deployment of Pakistani troops in the border region, cross-border activity of insurgents had come down.

“This step has helped considerably in bringing down the graph of insurgency in Afghanistan as compared to last winter,” he said. Flanked by the Vice-Chief of Army Staff, Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat, and the Chief of General Staff of the Afghan Army, Gen Bismillah Khan, the Isaf chief told journalists that monitoring a 2,500km porous border in the hilly terrain remains a huge task.

“Still,” he said, “reduction in the incidents since autumn has much to do with the activities on Pakistani side of the border. We are the beneficiaries on that side of border. All what has happened is not the result of an idle activity,” he remarked.

He said Pakistan Afghanistan and the Isaf knew that there were still problems. Gen Richards made these comments after attending a tripartite meeting between the Isaf and top Pakistani and Afghan military commanders, where border dispute, cross-border movement of militants, and accusations and counter-accusations by two close allies of the West were discussed and debated.

Very few details of what transpired at the meeting were given out by Gen Richards, except that he described the atmosphere as quite positive and friendly, and the discussion fruitful. However, Gen Richards’s remarks in support of Pakistan’s earlier claim that it was making serious efforts to check the cross-border movement of the Taliban and other anti-Kabul elements came as a pleasant development for many in Islamabad.

It may have been shocking for the Afghan Military Commander, Gen Bismillah, who was standing beside him during the press-talk. But Gen Khan decided not to say anything.

The comments, and the earlier meeting of the Tripartite Commission, were in the backdrop of a fresh tirade from Kabul, where President Hamid Karzai used pretty harsh language to accuse Pakistan of encouraging the cross-border militancy.

General Richards resolved to continue war on terror and bring peace to the country. "The war is winnable and requires a collective determination", he remarked.

He said the Commission was united in its resolve to win the war against terrorism.

He was of the view that most media reports about Afghanistan were based on speculations. He urged the media to desist from filing reports based on speculation. He said the media should reflect progress and optimistic view of the future, based on close cooperation and ability to resolve regional problems.

He said there was very close cooperation and genuine moves between all three parties of the Commission.

He, however, could not give a clear reply when his attention was drawn towards hostile statements which continue to emanate from Kabul and said he would avoid commenting on specific statements made by Hamid Karzai.

He said the meeting focused on how to take forward the joint campaign against terrorism at tactical level and to develop at operational level and continue the campaign in summer and coming spring. He said detailed discusses were held on all important issues and all sides were very happy with the progress of the meeting.

The ISAF Commander expressed optimism that this conflict will be resolved and said all the parties were united in their endeavours to achieve the goal.

He said the coalition forces inflicted a huge devastating defeat on Taliban. He said a large number of civilians were killed in Afghanistan and today the Taliban were paying the price of that. He said the Taliban were actually losing the support of people.

Answering a question about Pakistan's proposed plan to mine and fence its border with Afghanistan, he termed it a political issue and said it was still at initial levels. He said the issue was not discussed during the meeting.

Answering a question about poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, Mr Richards said the US, the UK and ISAF were working to address the issue in a manner that it does not imperil the economic growth in Afghanistan. He conceded that poppy was still being grown in the country at a massive scale and said Afghan economy was dependent to a great degree on narcotics, including poppy.

He said the issue of Afghan refugees was also discussed at the meeting. He said Afghan people who have been for many, many years, guests of Pakistan, should be encouraged to return to their homeland. He said Afghanistan was rapidly developing its economy and hoped the country will soon be able to reabsorb the Afghan people.

He said the government and people of Pakistan were sympathetic towards the people of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the ISPR said after introductory and welcome remarks, the 20th Plenary began with reports from the Border Security Sub-Committee, the Military Intelligence Sharing Working Group and the Counter-IED Working Group. In spite of bad weather since November hindering some travel arrangements, one Regional Border Security Sub Meeting (BSSM) was held in December, and Border Flag Meetings have continued, thereby further developing coordination at the tactical level. Further, the BSSMs are scheduled for the coming month.

The main focus for these will be detailed coordination of current operations related to the Operation OQAB, the successful joint Afghan Army/ISAF Afghanistan-wide security operation being conducted throughout winter months to facilitate reconstruction and development and the planning for Spring Operations based on the direction and guidance of the newly formed Operational Coordination Group (OCG). The Military Intelligence-Sharing Working Group (MISWG) focussed on technical details of providing intelligence support to the OCG and has also examined the responsibilities and procedures of the new Joint Intelligence Operations Centre (JIOC), defining the shared area of intelligence responsibility and developing procedures for communications and information exchange. The new building for the JIOC, located within the HQ ISAF in Kabul, is now complete and has achieved an interim operating capability, and a number of Pakistan Army officers are about to move to Kabul to work alongside their ANA and ISAF colleagues. The JIOC will achieve full operating capability in April once further ISAF manpower arrives. The Counter-Improved Explosive Device (C-IED) Working Group has made real progress in the arena of information exchange, which has resulted in significant operational successes and saving of numerous Afghan civilian lives. The group is now considering information operations in relation to the C-IED progress.

Later this month delegates will meet at Bagram Air Field to tour the Combined Explosive Exploitation Cell (CEXC) and discuss blast site preservation techniques. At the end of the month, the C-IED Working Group will meet in Pakistan to further their cooperation. The opportunity presented by so many experts gathered together enabled four break-out groups to convene. The OCG agreed its outline Terms of Reference and considered planning for Spring Operations. Other groups discussed intelligence, IED and information operations.

The next meeting will be held in late February 2007 in Islamabad.