Contrary to the stand thus far, Pakistan’s Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday ruled out the withdrawal of troops from the eastern border (with India) for deployment at the western border (Afghanistan).
 
‘We cannot and will not do it,’ he said at a press briefing along with military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas in Islamabad.
 
The minister said Pakistan could not remain oblivious to the conventional threat. ‘It is up to the local commanders to decide about the strength of troops required to conduct a counter-insurgency operation in Swat and tribal areas of the NWFP.’
 
Mr Kaira said President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement that India was no more a threat for Pakistan had been reported out of context. What the president meant was that there was no imminent threat of a war, he added.
 
About allegations that terrorists are crossing into Afghanistan to carry out attacks on US troops, Maj-Gen Abbas said: ‘We are trying to stop all those who cross into Afghanistan.’
 
Pakistan has 1,100 posts on its border with Afghanistan and 40,000 to 50,000 troops were manning the border. The problem is with Afghanistan. About 60 per cent area of Afghanistan was not under the control of its government, the General said, adding, ‘We cannot chase terrorists inside Afghanistan and appropriate measures are needed to be taken by the Afghan government.’