Pak-Afghan border 'epicentre of global terrorism': Mullen

Washington, Feb.3 (ANI): Describing the ungoverned tribal region along the Pakistan, Afghanistan border as the 'epicentre of global terrorism', US Joint Chiefs Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen has urged the US Senators to approve President Barack Obama's proposed aid bill of 33 billion dollars in supplemental funding for Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Taliban have a growing influence in most of Afghanistan's provinces, and the border area between that country and Pakistan remains the epicenter of global terrorism. Without your continued support, we will not be able to show the meaningful progress in Afghanistan that the commander-in-chief has ordered," Mullen said in his testimonial before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

It is worth mentioning here that Obama has asked the Congress for 33 billion dollars as additional aid to pay for the surge of US troops and for 159 billion in the 2011 defence budget to cover the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Highlighting that the 'stakes are too high for failure' in Afghanistan, Mullen, who was joined by Defence Secretary Robert Gates at the hearing, warned that the Taliban is once again expanding its presence in the war tattered country.

He also informed the committee that as part of Obama's surge of 30,000 troops, nearly 4,500 soldiers have already been deployed and about 18,000 forces would arrive by 'late spring.' (ANI)