KABUL: A joint Pakistani and International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) assessment of a June 17 border incident at Ziarat outpost at the
Afghanistan / Pakistan border concluded on June 21.
The joint
investigation, requested by Pakistani Chief of Staff of the Army
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, noted the restraint demonstrated by both
sides while acknowledging that policies and procedures need to be
improved, says a press statement issued here on Thursday.
Meeting
at the outpost where the incident took place between Nangarhar province
and Mohmand Agency, Pakistan, officials praised the restraint shown by
ISAF and Pakistani forces in preventing a serious incident from
occurring.
While it was confirmed that there had been an
inadvertent exchange of fire between ISAF and Pakistani forces, there
were no injuries during the incident.
“We appreciate the swift
action that ISAF has taken to investigate this incident,” said Brig.
Gen. Usman Khattak, deputy inspector general for the Frontier Scouts.
“This is key to our mutual understanding and preventing what could have
been a tragic event.” The ISAF team leader for the assessment echoed
Khattak’s comments.
“This level of cooperation and dialogue
extends much farther than the border,” said Brig. Gen. Tim Zadalis,
ISAF Joint Command director of air plans. “Each time we can sit down
and speak face to face like this is a significant step forward for
security across the region.”
Both Generals expressed their
belief that these types of assessment will continue to improve the
coordination of operations against the insurgents in the border area. Online
