Intelligence key in stopping infiltration

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, March 6 (UPI) -- A top NATO commander says the Taliban and al-Qaida remain a constant threat, but their ability to infiltrate Eastern Afghanistan has diminished.

Army Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, commander of NATO's Regional Command East, says the difficult terrain along the Afghanistan and Pakistan border is a challenge. He says the militant operatives are capable of moving through the porous border, the American Forces Press Service reported.

"The Taliban are very opportunistic," Rodriguez said in a statement. "They flow and move where the opportunities present themselves. With all of the things going on inside Pakistan right now, that has had an impact in what is going on along the border."

But Rodriguez says that NATO troops are making progress against militant operations. He says NATO is working to establish new border cooperation centers in the region so that Afghan, Pakistan and coalitions forces can share intelligence.

"The intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance effort out here is good," Rodriguez said. "Everyone is helping us bring in more over time. Because of the terrain -- it's mountainous, it's tough -- you couldn't see everything with any ISR that we have right now. The terrain is so undulating. We do a good job of maximizing the equipment that we do have."