KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Afghanistan and Pakistan will join with the International Security Assistance Force to improve border security.
The two central Asian countries publicly resolved to monitor the border region by establishing the Joint Intelligence Operations Center located in Kabul.
The center will be a forum for military leaders from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the NATO-led ISAF to collaborate on common concerns, such as terrorism in the border region and insurgent activity, Air Force News reported on Jan. 29.
"This is a historic day ... in the war on terror and against the insurgents," said Gen. David Richards, ISAF IX commander, during a ceremony marking the earlier opening of the JIOC, AFNews reported.
The JIOC will bring together six Pakistani and six Afghan liaison officers and 12 ISAF staff officers to provide 24-hour operations from the ISAF headquarters. Working in close proximity, Pakistani and Afghan military officers will be able to regularly collaborate to gather and analyze intelligence and to stage military operations. They will also produce reports to inform the wider intelligence community of regional concerns.
In the past, Afghan, Pakistani, and ISAF military leaders held bi-monthly meetings through the Tripartite Plenary Commission, but this was their only point of contact for collaboration and intelligence sharing.
"We have to support one another in our efforts to ensure stability, security and cooperation between both countries," said Maj. Andrew Zeigler, the ISAF's Government of Afghanistan intelligence representative. "At this point, I'm very optimistic about the prospects toward stabilization and security as a result of everyone's efforts," he said.
