 |
| John Nicholson (Image: Wiki Commons) |
In a special interview with TOLOnews, Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of US Forces and NATO in Afghanistan, said on Saturday that the US knows the Afghan Taliban leadership is in the Quetta and Peshawar areas.
He said the issue of outside sanctuaries has to be addressed but that it was “being addressed in private between the US government and the Pakistani government - but it does need to be addressed.”
“Support for terrorists and insurgents has to be reduced, has to be stopped,” said Nicholson.
On whether a diplomatic solution could be found, he said this was a possibility but that a significant military effort inside the country would be carried out and that together the US would work with the Afghan government to increase its military capabilities.
“I am primarily focused on activities inside Afghanistan,” but other officials are looking into the issue of sanctuaries in Pakistan, he said.
According to him, the issue of sanctuaries was a serious one and one that needed to be addressed.
“The Quetta Shura, Peshawar Shura, these shuras are identified by cities inside Pakistan, we know Afghan Taliban leaders are in these areas,” he said.
Read the full story at TOLOnews