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U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled a new strategy for its policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday.
Obama announced previously leaked plans to send 4,000 extra troops to Afghanistan, on top of 17,000 deployments already authorized.
The new strategy includes proposals to counter a persistent Taliban and al-Qaeda campaign that spans the two countries' shared border, and "additional development aid" for both nations.
Obama also repeated Bush area claims about attacks on US despite he has strongly criticized policy of George W. Bush's administration in the region.
"Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan," he said.
Obama aides meanwhile accused former president Bush administration of leaving US policy "adrift" in the two nations and said they would approach China, India and even US foe Iran to ease the situation.
"Our military forces in Afghanistan, including those recently approved by the President, should be utilized for two priority missions: 1) securing Afghanistan's south and east against a return of al Qaeda and its allies, to provide a space for the Afghani government to establish effective government control and 2) providing the Afghan security forces with the mentoring needed to expand rapidly, take the lead in effective counterinsurgency operations, and allow us and our partners to wind down our combat operations."
Warning the "safety of people around the world is at stake," Obama called on US allies and partners to join a civilian drive to improve reconstruction and development in Afghanistan.
Obama called Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday to outline the new US approach.
Pakistan
Following reports that more missile strikes on Pakistan could be part of the US tactics, Pakistan's foreign ministry asked Washington to reconsider.
"Pakistan's concerns in this regard have been conveyed to the US government at the highest level," foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.
Obama said that "We need to institutionalize stronger mechanisms for bilateral and trilateral cooperation. During the process of this review, inter-agency teams from Afghanistan and Pakistan came to Washington, DC for trilateral meetings."
As a result of the troop increases, the US force in Afghanistan will reach 61,000-65,000 by mid-September, which officials said would have a significant impact on the war zone.
"Boost" Afghan army
Officials argued that the Bush administration had failed to properly finance the development of the national Afghan army.
The review will set a target of expanding the Afghan army to 134,000 men and the police force to 82,000, but the numbers could go higher if needed, the officials said.
PHOTO CAPTION
U.S. President Barack Obama
Agencies
