American concerns grow as militants move bases along Pakistan border

A militant network that is a major Western adversary in Afghanistan is expanding its reach into tribal badlands outside its longtime sanctuary in Pakistan, a move that could complicate US efforts to eradicate the group.

The Los Angeles Times has quoted Pakistani tribal elders in the Kurram region along the Afghan border, as saying that large numbers of fighters from the Haqqani network, an ally of al-Qaeda, have been stationing themselves in the highlands of their district and are demanding the freedom to move in and out of Afghanistan to carry out attacks in neighbouring country.

US military commanders regard the group as a major roadblock to concluding the nine-year war in Afghanistan.

“If the Haqqani network spreads out, it will become very difficult for Nato forces to gather intelligence and strike the group,” said Khadim Hussain, coordinator at the Aryana institute for regional research and advocacy, a think tank in Islamabad.

With Pakistani military leaders refusing to pursue the Haqqani network, the Obama administration has ratcheted up the rate of drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas.