Pakistani terror network takes on major role in Afghan war

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Washington Examiner:

Pakistani terror network takes on major role in Afghan war
By: SARA A. CARTER
National Security Correspondent
August 16, 2010

The increasing numbers of fighters linked to a Pakistani terrorist group who have been killed or captured in Afghanistan this month illustrates the network's growing role in the violence there, officials told The Washington Examiner.

The Haqqani network, based in Pakistan, is working with al Qaeda to conduct suicide missions and combat operations against U.S. coalition forces in Afghanistan, according to Afghan and U.S. defense officials. More than 50 Haqqani fighters have been captured or killed in operations since Aug 1, along with the capture of eight commanders, a U.S. spokesman in Afghanistan said.

Over the weekend, Afghan commandos, aided by American troops, battled Haqqani and al Qaeda fighters in the Dzadran District of Paktia province. Fighting in the mountainous region continued until air strikes were called in and 23 insurgents were killed, Lt. Col. John Dorrian, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said in a phone interview from Kabul.