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Pak, U.S. cannot allow ties to unravel: Mullen
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO: U.S. and Pakistani leaders agree they cannot afford to let security ties unravel, the top U.S. military officer said on Tuesday.Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the comments before a trip to Islamabad as he visited U.S. bases in Afghanistan that are grappling with violence by insurgents.
Mullen acknowledged that "we've had a very turbulent time," but added that despite the tensions, all sides acknowledged the relationship was vital. "I think that all of us believe that we cannot afford to let this relationship come apart," Mullen said, referring to U.S. and Pakistani military and intelligence chiefs.
"It's just too dangerous. It's too dangerous, in each country, for each country. It's too dangerous for the region."
He acknowledged that the relationship was difficult, but added: "We walk away from it at our peril, quite frankly."
Asked about Pakistani demands to trim the number of U.S. military trainers, who Pakistan fears could be involved in covert action, Mullen said he still saw continued U.S. training support in the future. He did not offer specifics and said the matter still needed to be ironed out.
Mullen also visited the nearby U.S. forward operating base that was targeted by a suicide bomber in December 2009, killing seven CIA employees. (Reuters)
Courtesy www.geo.tv