Focus on security and stopping flow of roadside bomb materials from Pakistan to Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is in Pakistan where he is leading a congressional delegation trip to meet with top Pakistani and U.S. officials to address U.S. security concerns. Senator Casey is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee for the region, the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs. He will discuss this trip in a conference call with reporters tomorrow, Friday, August 26th at 12:00pm.
“Roadside bombs have been the gravest threat to U.S. troops in Afghanistan,” said Senator Casey. “I am in Pakistan to discuss a number of security concerns with an emphasis on working with Pakistani government officials to prevent materials used to make roadside bombs from entering Afghanistan.”
This is Senator Casey’s third trip to Pakistan.
Senator Casey is joined on the trip by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
In 2010, 268 U.S. service members were killed by IEDs in Afghanistan. 125 U.S. service members have been killed by IEDs since the beginning of 2011.
Senator Casey has led the way in the Senate to increase international pressure to stop the flow of ammonium nitrate and protect our troops. Senator Casey has pushed the Department of Defense to increase coordination and end unnecessary duplication in efforts to counter IEDs.
Last November, Senator Casey chaired a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee focused on impeding the flow of calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizer in South and Central Asia. The Senate has also passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senator Casey calling for increased support to combat the flow of calcium ammonium nitrate.
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