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

"Our desired end-state is a stable sub-region characterised by a low risk of conventional or nuclear war with regional states committed to non-interference with respect to their neighbors' internal affairs, the denial of sanctuary for violent extremist organistaions, and the non-proliferation of WMD," the U.S. CENTCOM chief said.

The general said, "We will maintain a unilateral capacity to conduct CT operations against high-value targets and groups in the region that pose a threat to the U.S. or our core national interests."

He said the U.S. would also work to improve military- to-military relationships by facilitating more frequent contact among the region's military leadership by encouraging multilateral training and operations.

Gen Austin said that while militants were present in the border areas, Pakistan had been taking action against them.

Violent extremist organizations continue to operate in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas and parts of eastern Afghanistan. These groups threaten regional stability, plan attacks against the U.S. and partner interests, and pursue weapons of mass destruction, he said.
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