Pak's 'Get Baitullah' mission critical to defeat Taliban: Gen Dutton

Lahore, June 27 (ANI): The International Security Assistance Force deputy commander, Lieutenant General Jim Dutton, has said that the Pakistan military's operation against Baitullah Mehsud is extremely important in defeating the Taliban on both sides of the Pak-Afghanistan border.

The Daily Times quoted him as saying, that the troop surge in Afghanistan could push the Taliban back to their original positions, including Pakistan.

General Dutton also cautioned Pakistan that Balochistan's border with Afghanistan was not adequately protected.

Observing that both Pakistan and Afghanistan faced insurgency as a major problem, he said the menace needed a common solution.

Admitting that even one civilian death was "too many, he said air strikes were being undertaken with care to avoid collateral damage. (ANI)