Reports indicate Pak military threatening to cancel a $400 million COIN training programme; Afghan, Canadian and NATO forces launch major operations near Kandahar; 5 coalition soldiers killed in roadside bombs
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    • The aftereffects of the June 10 American air raids inside Pakistani territory continued to be felt with reports noting that Islamabad was threatening to cancel a $400 million US programme intended to train paramilitary forces in counter-insurgency (COIN) operations in the tribal regions. While the Pakistani military had refused to allow American forces operate inside Pakistani territory, or even let American trainers accompany Pakistani forces, they had however agreed for Pakistani military to be trained by American advisors in COIN operations1. The US on its part urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to improve border security even as President Karzai had threatened to mount raids inside Pakistani territory against the Taliban and its leadership2.

    Afghan and NATO forces meanwhile launched operations in southern part of the country near Kandahar in Arghandab district to clear areas occupied by Taliban rebels. Over 1,000 Afghan soldiers along with unspecified numbers of Canadian troops took part in the operations along with NATO air support. Afghan defence ministry sources indicated that over 90 militants had been killed in the ongoing operations while 2 Afghan soldiers had lost their lives3.

    In other developments, roadside bombs killed 5 coalition soldiers in Kandahar and in the eastern province of Paktika, taking the number of foreign troops killed in the year to more than 100. Over 1,700 lives have been lost in renewed violence in the current year. 2007 had accounted for over 8,000 deaths4. Britain on its part announced that it will increase its troop strength in the country with the addition of 230 engineers, logistical staff and military training experts in addition to the around 7,800 British troops already base in the country.

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