Press release: De Facto Taliban - Al Qaeda State forming on Pakistan-Afghanistan Border
OTTAWA – ICOS on Wednesday called on the Manley Panel to recommend that Canada convene an emergency NATO meeting in response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in southern Afghanistan and the increased Taliban control in the region. According to ICOS, a de facto Taliban/Al Qaeda state is on the verge of emerging in southern Afghanistan, straddling the Afghan border into Pakistan.
ICOS on Monday testified to the Senate Standing Select Committee on National Security and Defence, and released its recommendations ahead of its testimony to the Manley Panel on Saturday. ICOS reiterated its call that NATO- ISAF troop numbers be doubled to 80,000, and stressed the need for these troops to operate alongside the Pakistani military inside Pakistan territory, to combat the rapidly expanding Taliban insurgency and thwart their logistical and recruiting operations in Pakistan.
“The Taliban and Al Qaeda have established firm roots across the border in Pakistan,” said Norine MacDonald QC, President and Lead Field Researcher of ICOS. “Failure to quell this growing threat would strengthen extremism in the region, giving the Taliban and Al Qaeda a geo-political base once again.”
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