In another war development, US officials said the Obama administration may expand missile strikes on Al Qaeda and the Taliban inside Pakistan and will focus on training Pakistan’s forces in a border area where militants have been aiding the Afghan insurgency.
In Washington, Bryan Whitman, Pentagon spokesman, said yesterday’s offensive was a continuation of operations, not a direct result of Obama’s new war strategy. But, he added, the assault was “consistent with the strategy that the president laid out.’’
Hundreds of Marines were dropped by helicopter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft behind Taliban lines in the northern end of the Now Zad Valley of Helmand Province, scene of heavy fighting last summer, according to Major William Pelletier, Marine spokesman.
In Brussels, Clinton told allied foreign ministers that it was essential that contributions to the war effort be provided as quickly as possible. She thanked Italy for its announcement that it will send an additional 1,000 troops and Britain for its pledge of another 500, but she said nonmilitary assistance is equally important.
“The need for additional forces is urgent, but their presence will not be indefinite,’’ she told the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s highest political group.
NATO’s secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark, told reporters at the organization’s headquarters that still more NATO forces might be sent, suggesting there would be “more to come.’’
Also, Admiral James Stavridis, the top NATO and US commander in Europe, said in an interview that he expects several thousand more non-US troops might be added to the 7,000.
“What we are all underlining to potential troop contributors is that we are truly asking for emphasis in the training area,’’ Stavridis said.
The transformation of Afghanistan’s army and police is critical to fulfill Obama’s intention to begin pulling out American units 18 months from now.
According to a copy of Clinton’s prepared remarks to the closed-door NATO meeting, she told the ministers that “the pace, size, and scope of the drawdown will be predicated on the situation on the ground.’’
