Rising number of Pak-based terrorists in Afghan

Washington, Aug 1: American officials have reportedly said that an increasing number of Pakistani militants, mostly hardened by years of combat against Indian forces in Kashmir, were now intruding into Afghanistan to join the intensifying insurgency against US and NATO forces.

According to them, these fighters also include those from outside the Taliban strongholds in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). "When we're talking about foreign fighters in Afghanistan, they're primarily Pakistanis. The chief concern for US officials is Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud," the Daily Times quoted one official as saying.

The American officials previously described Mehsud as being ambitious inside Pakistan, but, according to them, he has stepped up the recruitment of fighters for Afghanistan.

Another US official said: "If he doesn't have to fight the Pakistan army, he's free to focus on Afghanistan."

ANI