A senior Pakistani general criticized Wednesday the commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan for saying that Pakistan was planning a new offensive against militants along the border. Lt. Gen. Safdar Hussain, who commands thousands of troops hunting militants in the North and South Waziristan tribal regions, described reported comments by U.S. Lt. Gen. David Barno as a "highly irresponsible act on his part." Barno was quoted in Pakistani newspapers as saying Monday that Pakistan would soon begin an operation against militants in North Waziristan. "It is only speculation that terrorists are in North Waziristan. We are gathering intelligence but there is no report on the basis of which I can begin an operation," Hussain told reporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar where he is based. "There is no organized base of terrorists. They are on the run. I will not let them reorganize," Hussain said, a day after meeting in Peshawar with Barno, who commands the 17,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan and visited Pakistan this week. On Tuesday, Pakistani army spokesman Maj. Shaukat Sultan also rejected the reported statement by Barno, saying "we decide for ourselves what needs to be done, when and where."
