An International Security Assistance Force spokesperson says progress is being made towards improving security along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
This observation from Canadian Brig.-Gen. Richard Blanchette comes alongside the perception that the porous boundary is an operational liability for military forces trying to cripple the local insurgency.
Blanchette, however, told CTV's Canada AM that while the border has its problems, its security is an issue that is being taken seriously by leaders in both countries.
"From a tactical point of view, it is very difficult to hit and take control of a situation when your enemy is able to go across the border to rest on the other side -- on the Pakistani side -- to resupply, to plan its operations and even to recruit," Blanchette told Canada AM from Kabul on Thursday morning.
Regional leaders realize that the insurgency is "a problem that is happening as much in Pakistan as it's happening in Afghanistan," Blanchette said, and they are engaged in discussions about the issue with ISAF and eachother.
On Wednesday, a series of high-level talks that took place in Turkey saw Pakistani and Afghan leaders pledge closer co-operation in their common fight against the influence of the Taliban and al Qaeda in their region.
Blanchette said those talks were part of a larger, and still developing, co-operative effort between the two countries that are giving the two sides, as well as ISAF forces, the intelligence they need to police the most troublesome spots along the border.
"We have to remember that there are thousands of crossing points and that this border is 2,500 kilometers long," he said.
"So we are completely cognizant that we cannot completely seal the border, but we have to improve the communication between the two forces and it is happening."
ISAF forces have recently witnessed Afghan and Pakistani military leaders trading information on the transport and construction of dangerous IEDs that pose dangers for everyone. It's one example of how increased cross-border co-operation is making the region safer, Blanchette said.
"We have battalion commanders, company commanders, shaking hands on the border and exchanging information about the IEDs," Blanchette said. "We are encouraged by this exchange of information and this has to continue."
While things are changing in Afghanistan, with thousands of additional foreign soldiers streaming into the country as part of a massive U.S. troop surge, some critics say the situation on the ground is actually getting worse, not better.
But Blanchette remains optimistic that the U.S. troops will help continue efforts to quell the insurgency that is concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan.
"With the additional troops coming to the south, and the fact that we will have more and more Afghan National Security Forces trained...this is going to make a difference, this is going to be a game-changer," he said.
"With more troops and the fact that we will have an election year, we know that the people of Afghanistan will feel a wind of change," Blanchette added.
