Kerry says US effort against terrorists cannot stop at the border with Pakistan

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Kerry says US cannot ignore Pakistan in war policy

WASHINGTON — Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry says what happens in Pakistan is as critical to American success in South Asia as what happens on the ground in Afghanistan.

Kerry said “it would be a mistake in Pakistan or anywhere to believe” that President Barack Obama’s statement about drawing down forces by mid-2011 in Afghanistan means the United States would be withdrawing from the region.

Speaking at the start of a hearing on the addition of 30,000 U.S. troops to the war in Afghanistan, the Massachusetts Democrat said the “interconnected forces” aligned against the U.S. “do not stop at the Pakistan border, so our efforts can’t stop there either.” The panel was to hear from Gen. David Petraeus.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is questioning whether the United States is focusing on the right country in it’s war against the Taliban and the al-Qaida terrorist network.

Sen. Dick Lugar said Wednesday the U.S. risks spending billions of dollars fighting in strategically less important Afghanistan while militants becoming more secure in their havens across the border in Pakistan.

The Indiana Republican prepared the remarks for a Senate hearing where lawmakers will hear testimony from Gen. David Petraeus ( peh-TRAY’-uhs), overall commander for the Mideast region, and Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.