Gates confronts Pakistan on border problems

NY Times:

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates made an unannounced trip to Pakistan today for talks with one of America's most complicated partners. He offered strong words of support for the government, even as he urged it to do more to halt the flow of Taliban fighters into Afghanistan.

Mr. Gates volunteered the help of the United States in easing a war of words between Afghanistan and Pakistan over border areas inside Pakistan that are being used as safe havens for Taliban and Qaeda fighters.

After meeting with President Pervez Musharraf, Mr. Gates told reporters he was flying back to Washington reassured that Pakistan would work more strenuously to halt insurgents from crossing the border to attack American, NATO and Afghan troops.

"If we weren't concerned about what was happening along the border, I wouldn't be here," Mr. Gates said.

...

Asked about reports that American troops in Afghanistan had been shelling Taliban positions across the border in Pakistan, Mr. Gates did not respond specifically, but said, "Our operations are coordinated with the Pakistanis."

...

Should General Musharraf move aggressively to quash Islamic radicals in his nation, he risks fomenting internal unrest, which could be a serious matter in a nation with nuclear weapons. Washington understands these risks, these officials said. At the same time, they said, Pakistan's security services have divided loyalties, and even some disciplined units lack adequate equipment and training.

The cross border artillery attacks make sense and his implication of coordination with Pakistan make sense. It is a way of putting pressure on an enemy in both countries. The trip probably put the attacks in context for both sides. While the last paragraph is no doubt true, those are problems that Pakistan is going to have to manage at the same time it does not permit itself to become a sanctuary that could result in much larger and more sustained attacks against Pakistan.