Jalalabad, Afghanistan, June 22: US and Afghan forces, backed by tanks and helicopters, swept along the border with Pakistan today searching for Taliban and al-Qaeda suspects, an Afghan security official said. The operation, dubbed ‘Unified Resolve’ by the US military, started Saturday. It was intended to stop cross-border insurgency by the Islamic militants, who have increased their attacks against US-led coalition forces stationed in Afghanistan.
Mohammed Zahir, head of the border security department in Jalalabad said he was not aware if the US forces had made any arrests during the sweep.
"We are not aware of their plans," said Zahir. "They are doing their own business and we are doing ours," he said of the Afghan government troops that are taking part in the joint operation. The US military, headquartered at Bagram Air Base, just north of the Afghan capital, Kabul, had no immediate comment on today's developments.
Across the border in Pakistan, tribesmen exchanged fire with Pakistani troops who earlier this week entered the tense tribal region for the first time, an Afghan security official said on condition of anonymity.
He said that Pakistani soldiers entered the disputed patch of territory claimed by both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan, a key US ally in its war on terrorism, has moved troops into the tense region to track down possible Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants. It was not immediately clear if the US and Pakistani military coordinated the offensive on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border. Bureau Report