News - Afghanistan

The CIA Director General David Petraeus has told a congressional committee that he believes Afghan forces should not enter Pakistan to destroy the sanctuaries that the Taliban leaders allegedly enjoyed in that country, reports said.

"With respect should the Afghan forces be allowed to go, well, I think that's obviously a question for Afghanistan, but I think they probably have sufficient fights on their hands without invading the soil of another country, even as significant as is the threat that is posed by some of these safe havens across the border," Petraeus said.

Mr Petraeus has also told the committee that the United States should further develop a northern supply route to support US and Nato troops in Afghanistan, adding that the US and Russia were already cooperating with each other in this connection.

The comments come as Pakistan recently blocked Nato supply route to Afghanistan that passes through the Kheyber Pass. The supply route was blocked in response to a Nato air strike on two Pakistani checkpoints near Afghan border that killed 24 soldiers on Nov 2011.

After the incident relations between Pakistan and US deteriorated.

Meanwhile, during a discussion on Pakistan's role in the Afghan dispute, Director of National Intelligence Gen. James Clapper claimed that senior Taliban leaders still enjoyed sanctuaries on Pakistani soil.

"And the support of Afghanistan's neighbours - notably and particularly Pakistan - will reign essential to sustain the gains" that the US-led forces had made in that country.