America Using Afghan Forces To Pursue Militants Hiding In Pakistan

A US official has told that the CIA has assigned an Afghan paramilitary unit to hunt down Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters in secret operations in Pakistan. Responding to claims made by renowned news reporter Bob Woodward in his new book, the official told that these counter terrorism teams were extremely effective but didn't provide any further details.

The Washington Post, which exposed details of this book, claims that the 3000-strong army of Afghan paramilitary troops was formed and trained by the CIA with the aim of carrying out highly sensitive secret operations inside the Pakistani territory.

These explosive revelations are sure to strain America's relations with Pakistan as well as Kabul's complicated ties with Islamabad. The Pakistani government said that it didn't know anything about such force while the military strongly rejected its presence.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Basit, Pakistan has a clear-cut policy of not allowing any "foreign boots" on its soil. Commenting on the revelations about a US-backed unit operating in Pakistan, military spokesperson Major General Athar Abbas said: "No foreign body, no foreign militia, no foreign troops are allowed to operate on our side of the border. Anyone found doing so will be fired upon."

US President Barack Obama has pushed Pakistan to go after militant hideouts in its territory, and ordered air strikes from unmanned aircraft's in Pakistan's tribal areas to be intensified, as the president faces growing pressure to find a way to pull out troops from Afghanistan.