ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 12 (UPI) -- Troops from the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan are holding first-ever joint military exercises to improve counter-terror cooperation in the region.
Special forces troops from the three nations have been training together in Pakistan for the last nine days to share technologies and operational strategies to combat terrorism, according to Thursday report by Pakistan TV.
U.S. Green Berets, Pakistan's Special Services Groups and soldiers from the Afghan National Army are partaking in exercises in sharp shooting, leadership training and reconnaissance operations.
"The exercises by troops of the three armies is aimed at benefiting from each others experiences and generating better coordination and understanding between them," said Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, public relations chief for Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence.
U.S. and Afghan officials say Taliban insurgents operating along its porous southern border with Pakistan are gaining strength.
Afghan Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad on Friday said that attacks against security forces have surged and alleged fighters have received training from elements within Pakistan's intelligences services.
NATO is set to boost troop levels in Afghanistan from 9,000 to a total of 21,000 by the end of the year, he said.
