US looks to Pakistan border for Afghan endgame

'Critics of the speed and size of the US drawdown have warned that it may not leave enough troops to achieve maximum success in the east. But for others, the real problem is rear bases in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal belt just across the border. There, the US fight is confined to drone strikes, as Islamabad has refused to countenance US boots on the ground.As President Barack Obama reduces troop numbers, his commanders must strike a compromise between consolidating gains in the south and concentrating on the east, where some of the fiercest insurgent groups are active. “It is fair to say that senior officers from the two theatres are competing over troops,” said one US officer. “It is a matter on which a lot hangs.” Read More.