News
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
US, Pakistan cannot allow ties to unravel: Mullen
* Mullen says despite strains, both countries realise that relationship is vital
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO: US and Pakistani leaders agree they cannot afford to let security ties unravel, the top US military officer said on Tuesday, even as he acknowledged persistent strains, including alleged Pakistani links to terrorists staging attacks in Afghanistan.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US military’s joint chiefs of staff, made the comments before a trip to Islamabad as he visited US bases in Afghanistan that are grappling with violence by insurgents coming over the border from Pakistan.
“We’re working our way through the relationships that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has with the Haqqani network and the strain that that creates,” Mullen said, even as he cited battlefield gains reducing the group’s mobility.
“I’ll see Chief of Army Staff General Kayani here shortly and these are issues I address with him every single time we engage. And I certainly intend to (raise that) this week.”
The case of a CIA contractor, Raymond Davis, who killed two Pakistanis brought anger to boiling point and challenged the CIA’s campaign of aerial drone strikes against militants hiding in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas.
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 US 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 US military trainers, who Pakistan fears could be involved in covert action, Mullen said he still saw continued US training support in the future. He did not offer specifics and said the matter still needed to be ironed out.
“I’ve been very straight with the American people with respect to that. I think our losses which were significant last year will be this year as well,” Mullen said.
“That said, the Taliban had a really tough year last year. They’re going to have a tougher one this year.”
US commanders in Afghanistan cited increased cooperation at a tactical level on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border. They also acknowledge violence that has reached inside the bases visited by Mullen. reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk