The US is working on a new approach with India and Pakistan for promoting stability and reconciliation in Afghanis­tan, the state department has said. “Our approach to South Asia and specifically Afghanistan means new approaches with India and Pakistan to deny safe havens to terrorist organisations,” State Department Inspector General Steve A. Linick said. This year’s report detailed ongoing difficulties in monitoring and overseeing the anti-terrorism assistance programme in Pakistan. The report pointed out that the State Department has no staff in Pakistan for verifying satisfactory contractor performance or monitoring whether required reports were submitted. The report also identified ways the State Department’s own practices contributed to problems, notwithstanding the fact that oversight personnel could not be located in Pakistan.

Source: Hindustan Times November 28, 2017 11:15 UTC