US to focus on Af-Pak border, rules out ground assault in Yemen

Washington, Jan 11(ANI): US head of Central Command, General David Petraeus, has dismissed reports of a possible ground assault in Yemen, saying that American forces will remain focused on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in its battle against Al-Qaeda.

Petraeus, who is overseeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, believes that Al-Qaeda is under pressure in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan and the organization is now seeking refuge in Yemen, but said that Afghan-Pak border is the most important locale in America's war against terror.

"Right now, as far as any kind of boots on the ground there (Yemen), with respect to the US, that's not a possibility," The Dawn quoted Petraeus, as saying.

Petraeus also said that Yemen's Foreign Minister has made it "quite clear that Yemen does not want to have American ground troops there. And that's a good response for us to hear, certainly."

He further said that the US plans to double its security assistance funding to Yemen, from 70 million dollars to more than 150 million dollars in order to counter the Al-Qaeda uprising in the region. (ANI)