Secretary Gates says the increasedinsurgent activity in the U.S. sector in Eastern Afghanistan is "a realconcern." He says progress in the area during the last year is atrisk, in part because of the porous border with Pakistan.
"RegionalCommand-East has been a success story. But clearly the ability of theTaliban and other insurgents to cross that border and not being underany pressure from the Pakistani side of the border is clearly aconcern. I think that needs to be addressed with the Pakistanigovernment," he said.
Earlier this week, the new U.S. commanderin Eastern Afghanistan, Major General Jeffrey Schloesser, said attacksin his area were up 40 percent during the first five months of theyear, compared to the same period last year. He also said the attacksare more complex, and are sometimes aimed at schools and developmentprojects, with the apparent goal of discrediting the Afghan government.
SecretaryGates acknowledged the problem, and welcomed a statement Wednesday byPakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, announcing a newinitiative to get control of the border area.
"In some measure,the challenges that we're facing in Afghanistan, in RC-South andRC-East are, as I say, in some measure, a result of the relaxation ofpressure on the Pakistani side of the border. And my hope is that theprime minister's statement indicates a willingness to reassert thatpressure," he said. RC stands for Regional Command.
Secretary Gates says the United States will pursue the issue with the Pakistani government.