AP Interview: General says US increasing intel, surveillance on Afghan-Pakistan border

WASHINGTON – The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan says the U.S. has increased its surveillance over the Afghan-Pakistani border, as Pakistan pounds a militant stronghold with airstrikes. So far officials haven’t seen militants fleeing the latest offensive, which began Sunday.

Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford tells The Associated Press in an interview that the U.S. is not co-ordinating military operations with Pakistan along the border, but officials have increased the amount of intelligence-sharing with the Afghans. He says the Afghan troops and U.S. forces in that region are ready for any after-effects of the strike, including extremists seeking refuge in Afghanistan.

The U.S. has long pressed Pakistan to root out Taliban militants who have found safe haven in the lawless tribal region of North Waziristan.