AFP, WASHINGTON (AFP): US military are training Pakistani troops who have to come up against Al-Qaeda and foreign fighters hiding in Pakistan's tribal areas near the Afghan border, according to a US newspaper quoting a US general.
Lieutenant General David Barno, whose 18-month tour of duty in Afghanistan ends next month, told The New York Times the Pakistani units were being trained in night flying and airborne assault tactics, in the first acknowledgement of such training by a US military officer.
The general said that on Saturday he attended a display by the Pakistani units trained by the Special Services Group at the US military team's headquarters at Cherat, near Peshawar.
Pakistani militry sources, however, denied that there were any US military trainers at Cherat and said the display Barno was referring to was in reality a joint military excercise.
“The Pakistan Army has been training with many countries of the world,” General Shaukat Sultan told the daily by telephone. “We have also been conducting joint military training with the US Army many a time earlier.
“They benefit from each other's experience. They learn from each other. That's what has been happening, and nothing else,” the spokesman added.
