BREAKING NEWS

US: No way to seal Afghan-Pakistan border

WASHINGTON  — A US military commander says there is no practical way to seal Afghanistan's vast border with Pakistan and stop all Taliban fighters from slipping through, so troops are focusing on defending vulnerable towns and fighting insurgents on Afghan soil.
Army Col. Viet Luong, who oversees US forces in a section of eastern Afghanistan, told reporters on Tuesday that "to secure the border in the traditional sense" would "take an inordinate amount of resources." Luong said it also would require far more cooperation from the tribes inside Pakistan who often provide Taliban fighters safe passage.
Other senior US military officials have said they hope the Pakistan military does more to shut down Taliban hideouts. But the US has denied reports that American forces are pushing to expand special operations raids inside Pakistan.