Washington, Dec.9 (ANI): General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, has said that if Pakistan takes stringent action against the Haqqani network inside its territory, dismantling the Al-Qaeda linked group would be a matter of time for the US troops.

“If the Pakistan government became “intolerant” of the Haqqani network on its side of the border, troops in Afghanistan could finish off the al-Qaida linked group,” The News quoted General McChrytsal, as saying.

The Haqqani network of fighters are Afghans who command the insurgents against the U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan from the Waziristan tribal region in Pakistan.

General McChrystal said the insurgents are effective because they can dictate terms to the local population, which consists largely of Pashtuns. (ANI)