CIA expansion in Pak, more drone attacks, part of Obama's revamped AFPAK plans

Washington, Dec.2 (ANI): While President Obama has decided to send in more troops to Afghanistan to facilitate the 'war on terror' in that country, US officials believe that problems emanating from Pakistan would prove far more intractable than the Afghan chaos.

According to administrative officials, Obama is aware about the expanding threat from Pakistan based outlawed organisations, and has therefore signed off a plan by the Central Intelligence Agency to expand C.I.A. activities in that country.

The CIA's plan includes expanding of drone attacks in the lawless tribal region along the Pakistan Afghanistan border and sending more spies.

"The C.I.A. plan calls for widening the campaign of strikes against militants by drone aircraft, sending additional spies to Pakistan and securing a White House commitment to bulk up the C.I.A.'s overall budget for operations inside the country," The New York Times reported.

Officials said the enhanced operations could well see more drone attacks in areas, including Balochistan, where top Afghan Taliban commanders are believed to have taken refuge.

President Obama has announced that 30,000 additional troops would be sent to Afghanistan by the first part of the next year.

Obama, however, also vowed to start pulling out of Afghanistan by the middle of 2011.

Obama, while announcing the revamped AFPAK strategy, said the United States cannot afford an'open-ended commitment', and that it was time for Afghans to take more responsibility for their country.

Speaking in front of 4,000 cadets at the United States Military Academy here, he vowed to "bring the war to a successful conclusion"

"I see firsthand the terrible ravages of war. If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow. So no, I do not make this decision lightly," Obama said.

Obama underlined that America was not the only country concerned with the war, asking US' allies to step up their commitment.

"This is not just America's war. The days of providing a blank check are over," Obama said, in what appeared to be a clear message to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. (ANI)