*EPF505 05/03/2002
Defense Department Report, May 3: Afghanistan, China, Japan
(New Afghan operation encounters no enemy yet, official says) (390)

"OPERATION SNIPE" SWEEPING MOUNTAINOUS AREA ON PAKISTAN BORDER

No contact with enemy forces has occurred so far in the newest U.S. and coalition military operation in eastern Afghanistan, a Defense Department official said May 3.

Air Force Brigadier General John Rosa told reporters at a Pentagon briefing that "Operation Snipe," led by British commandos and including U.S. and other coalition forces, is operating along the Afghan border with Pakistan. The goal of the operation, Rosa said, is to kill or capture al-Qaida and former Taliban forces "while also trying to prevent the enemy from regrouping, moving and operating freely in this region as we eliminate their sanctuaries." Rosa said the operation is being coordinated with Pakistani forces on their side of the border.

Rosa noted that a few rounds of rocket-propelled grenades had been fired on May 2 in the vicinity of Khost, but that no injuries had resulted. There was no determination of who fired the rounds, he said.

U.S., CHINA TO CONSIDER FUTURE MILITARY-MILITARY CONTACTS

Pentagon Spokeswoman Victoria Clarke, who briefed with Rosa, said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao discussed bilateral military-to-military contacts, among other topics, during Hu's recent visit.

The two officials discussed a wide range of defense issues, including proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Clarke said.

"My understanding of the agreement was that they would have their representatives get together to talk about future military-to-military cooperation," she said.

Clarke added that the United States and China have had continuing military-to-military contacts, but only on a case-by-case basis.

P-3 AIRCRAFT AND AEGIS DETROYERS ON AGENDA FOR U.S.-JAPAN MEETING

Clarke said Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith was meeting May 3 with Japanese officials to discuss continued Japanese participation in the war against terrorism.

"Very quickly after September 11th," Clarke said, the Japanese "stepped up to the plate and really pitched in in terms of support for the coalition." Japan has contributed airlift, two destroyers and an oil tanker, she said. Provision of propeller-driven P-3 aircraft and ships outfitted with the Aegis missile defense system are on the agenda for talks with Feith, she said.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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