US, Afghan Forces Mass at Pakistan Border

Large numbers of American and Afghan troops have gathered near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan and a crackdown on the Taliban-allied Haqqani militant network is widely expected. The group—which operates on both sides of the border—has been responsible for many attacks on coalition forces, and while military sources say the plan is to force Haqqani fighters over the border into Afghanistan where they can be "encircled, arrested, or killed," it's not clear whether Pakistan's military is supporting the operation, the Telegraph reports.

US officials have accused Pakistan's military spy agency of supporting the Haqqani group, while Pakistan has resisted American pressure to crack down on the network, saying its top priority is fighting militants who are attacking Pakistani targets. Pakistani officials in the border region say they will not tolerate US troops crossing the border. "No foreign power can dare challenge us. We are fully prepared to respond to misadventures," a security official tells the Nation, warning that US supply convoys could become a target. (More Haqqani Network stories.)