On the heels of a successful mission in Kandahar, which cleared the area of hundreds of Taliban fighters, U.S. and Afghan forces dealt a second major blow to insurgents in the past week:
U.S.-led forces rained fire for two days on militants near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan, officials said Monday, killing about 55 insurgents and underscoring how fighting with Taliban insurgents is escalating. The battle in eastern Paktika province was the second in the past week to reportedly inflict major casualties on militants, whom Afghan officials insist are swarming in from strongholds in Pakistan. Pakistan’s government on Monday reiterated an offer to fence the craggy, 1,500-mile frontier–a project begun but abandoned last year amid criticism that it would only enrage the tribes who straddle the frontier and among whom the Taliban find many recruits.
Yes, why would anyone risk upsetting the terrorists by building a wall to keep them away? Until President Karzai dismisses such frivolous concerns, successful battles will not translate into long-term stability.
