WASHINGTON, USA — The United States supports a decision by
Afghanistan and Pakistan to form a joint military group that will
address recent incidents along their shared border, a State Department
official has said.
"We call on both sides to continue to engage
cooperatively to lower tensions on the border and to ensure the
protection of the local population in the border regions," said State
Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
She added that "real
progress" has been made in the relationship between Afghanistan and
Pakistan in the last year and cited the signing and implementing of the
Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement and the formation of the
Joint High Peace Commission.
Washington this week suspended $800
million in security aid to Pakistan as it presses for greater
counter-terrorism cooperation from Pakistan, which has faced intense
criticism after Osama bin Laden was killed on its soil in May. AFP
