Afghan-oriented militants getting support from elements of Pakistan government, says Pentagon

In a damning report, the Pentagon has said Afghan-oriented militant groups, including the Taliban and Haqqani Network, benefit from "support" from elements of the Pakistan government.

"Pakistan views the outcome of Afghanistan to be in its vital national interest and thus remains driven by its India-centric regional policy objectives," the Pentagon said in its latest Afghan report, the first under the Trump administration. Running into nearly 100 pages, the report identifies Pakistan as the most influential external actor affecting Afghanistan's stability and the outcome of the missions in this war-torn country. "Afghan-oriented militant groups, including the Taliban and Haqqani Network, retain freedom of action inside Pakistani territory and benefit from support from elements of the Pakistani Government," the report said.

"Although Pakistani military operations have disrupted some militant sanctuaries, certain extremist groups —such as the Taliban and the Haqqani Network—were able to relocate and continue to operate in and from Pakistan," the report said. The US continues to convey to Pakistan at all levels the importance of taking action against all terrorist and extremist groups, it said.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan border region remains a sanctuary for various groups, including al Qaeda, al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISIS, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, it said. "Sanctuary on the Pakistan side and presence on the Afghan side remain a security challenge for both countries and pose a threat to regional security and stability," it noted. Interestingly, the Pentagon report comes days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden meeting with US President Donald Trump.