U.S. To Expand Military Presence In Pakistan Early Next Year

War In Iraq, November 10, 2007

Paul Icamina - AHN News Writer

Islamabad, Pakistan (AHN) - U.S. military trainers are scheduled to begin arriving early next year to train Pakistanis in battling militants, reflecting an expanded American presence in the volatile country.

Long before President Pervez Musharraf's suspension of civil liberties, U.S. trainers were ordering equipment and surveying training facilities outside Islamabad.

However, senior military officials have privately voiced concern that the unrest in Pakistan threatens to disrupt the plan's momentum. Both because of developments in Washington, where members of Congress seek to restrict aid, and in Islamabad, where the emergency rule has focused Pakistan's military on curbing popular dissent, the Washington Post reports.

The initiative is unprecedented in recognizing Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as one of the U.S. military's top concerns. The rugged, virtually impenetrable tribal region along the Afghan border is a sanctuary for al-Qaeda fighters and Taliban insurgents. From that area, the militants can stage cross-border attacks into Afghanistan and they can potentially plan strikes elsewhere.

The initial program will last five to seven years and it will cost $75 million to $100 million a year. That includes the cost of trainers, training facilities and light infantry weapons such as machine guns, as well as mortars, body armor, helmets, radios and trucks.

However, the initiative goes beyond security. It also includes a plan to combine efforts by several U.S. and Pakistani agencies to provide economic development, health-care and literacy programs to the area.

The U.S. military depends heavily on Pakistan to facilitate air and ground transit for more than half the fuel and other supplies for the 25,000 U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan.

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