Report faults Pakistan for surge of deadly IED attacks in Afghanistan

Pakistan is delaying visas for U.S. experts and equipment, preventing them from stopping cross-border smuggling of fertilizer chemicals used to make improvised explosive devices in neighboring Afghanistan, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. 

The report is further fueling bipartisan anger at Pakistan in Congress, where lawmakers have already voted to cut funding for the country by more than two thirds below the White House request. It was commissioned by Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.), who said he was prompted to action by the high number of Americans killed by roadside bombs in Afghanistan.

“The Pakistanis must be held accountable for delaying U.S. personnel who are working to protect American troops and contribute to stability in the region,” Casey said in a statement. “This is unacceptable and certainly deserves closer scrutiny. Roadside bombs have killed far too many Pennsylvania troops and no efforts to counter these deadly devices should be spared.”

The report goes on to point out that Pakistan developed a National Counter-IED Strategy in June 2011 but has yet to finalize an implementation plan for carrying out the strategy.