Tension With India Impacts Pak's Afghan Strategy: U.S. General

WASHINGTON: Tension between India and Pakistan threatens regional stability and "largely drives" the latter's strategy in Afghanistan, a top U.S. military officer has told a Congress committee.

"Tension between India and Pakistan continue to threaten regional stability and largely drives Pakistan's regional strategy, especially as it relates to Afghanistan," U.S. Central Command Chief General Lloyd Austin said while testifying before the Congress's House Armed Services Committee.

He said the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan had created an opportunity to "normalize" America's relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"This may encourage the two countries to find common ground in countering the violent extremist organizations operating in their border region."

He said the U.S. was working towards facilitating implementation of confidence building measures between Pakistan and Afghanistan to further reduce border tensions and increase military cooperation between them.
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