Share this article
Print this page
Email a friend
- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.0
High: 34°C
Low: 27°C
Alerts
Mullen’s fence-mending visit strikes sour note
US admiral’s statement about ISI-Haqqani links comes just before crucial meetings with Gen Kayani and Gen Waynne.
US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen meets with his Pakistani counterpart General Khalid Shameem Waynne in Rawalpindi. PHOTO: AFP/ISPR
ISLAMABAD:
Meetings between military brass from Pakistan and the United States on Wednesday made little headway to break months of deadlock, which hit a new low as US’ top military official openly accused Pakistan’s premier spy agency of having a ‘longstanding’ relationship with an Afghan Taliban-linked group allegedly based in North Waziristan.
“It’s fairly well known that the ISI has a longstanding relationship with the Haqqani Network,” US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen said just before meeting Pakistan’s military brass.
“Haqqani is supporting, funding, training fighters that are killing Americans and killing coalition partners. And I have a sacred obligation to do all I can to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he told Pakistani media after his arrival in Islamabad from Afghanistan.
Admiral Mullen’s comments were not the first by US officials pointing the finger at elements of the ISI and their alleged links to the Haqqani Network.
But Wednesday’s forceful and repeated remarks by Mullen about those ties suggest Washington is not about to back away from calls for Pakistan to take a more assertive stand against the Haqqanis – even as the US seeks to mend diplomatic ties with Islamabad.
Admiral Mullen made the statement ahead of his meetings with his Pakistani counterpart Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Despite Mullen’s charges against the ISI, he underlined the importance of security cooperation between Pakistan and the US, depicting how heavily Washington relies on Islamabad for an exit from Afghanistan possibly later this year.
A US embassy statement issued after the meetings said Mullen had promised Pakistan continued support in its fight against militancy.
“Throughout the visit, the admiral emphasised the long-term US commitment to supporting Pakistan in its fight against violent extremists,” the statement said.
The crucial talks between Mullen and Kayani were meant to defuse tensions that had been mounting after CIA operative Raymond Davis killed two Pakistanis in Lahore early this year.
Military and civilian leaders from both sides have since been involved in a series of efforts to save the troubled alliance but there has not been any significant headway.
Admiral Mullen acknowledged this bad patch in bilateral ties but sounded optimistic about the future.
“The ability to sustain a very difficult period as we have recently, between Pakistan and the United States, is in some ways indicative of the strength of the relationship,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have challenges to continue to address, because we do.”
There was a surprise mum by the Pakistani military till late Wednesday and no official word was offered. Security officials, however, said Gen Kayani had rejected fresh accusations by the American admiral.
The ISI has long been suspected of maintaining ties to the Haqqani Network, cultivated during the 1980s when Jalaluddin Haqqani was a feared battlefield commander against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
A senior Pakistani intelligence official rejected any suggestion of collusion. “I don’t know what kind of relationship he’s talking about. If he means we’re providing them with protection, with help, that’s not correct,” he said. “Even if you are enemies, you have a relationship.”
He said Pakistan had attacked Haqqani’s positions and raided his mosques in the past. “Right now, we are not attacking him because we are fully engaged against another group, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” he said.
The US has been pushing Pakistan to go after the Haqqanis in their alleged stronghold in North Waziristan. However, Pakistan says that its military is engaged on too many fronts to launch an offensive in North Waziristan.
The CIA has, in the meantime, launched a drone campaign against ‘terrorist sanctuaries’ in the region despite repeated protests from the Pakistan government. However, the March 17 drone strike on a tribal jirga in the Mirali area of North Waziristan which had killed over 40 people was openly condemned by Gen Kayani.
Since then, according to media reports, Pakistan has been asking the US to scale back the CIA drone campaign in its tribal regions.
On Wednesday Pakistani journalists also pressed Mullen about the drone attacks. US officials do not publicly acknowledge the US drone programme, leaving Mullen to only restate his confidence in US-Pakistan ties. “What’s really important is the relationship between our two countries,” Mullen said.
But Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying that Washington would not abandon its drone programme but how it goes forward is a matter for US and Pakistani intelligence and military officials to determine.
“The programme is something that we have said we will go ahead on. The question is how. And that process is going to be something that’s going to be one of the main tasks that our intel and our military guys have,” the official said, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity.
With additional input from Reuters
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2011.
Reader Comments (47)
Latest News
Mountain lion ventures into crowded city
The 3-year-old mountain lion weighing about 34kgs ended up in the middle of a beachside city.
Acid victims fear backlash over Saving Face
Legal notices were sent to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and fellow producer Daniel Junge on Friday.
Balochistan unrest: CJ lashes out at Gilani, home minister
Chief justice says 'other options' available if Gilani does not want implementation of court orders.
Pro-Sindh rally killings: Strike observed in parts of Karachi
Interior Minister Rehman Malik takes notice of killings at rally, orders formation of investigation team.
Mom's excess pounds key in newborn weight
Babies that large are more likely to cause birth injuries in the mom or to require a cesarean section.
Recent Slideshows
More in Pakistan
Implementation Commission: PML-N quits 18th Amendment panel
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2012 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? webmaster@tribune.com.pk
Now that they are in am impasse in Afghanistan and tasting defeat at the hands of Taliban, they are trying to appease Pakistani military. How hypocrite they are instead of admitting clear licking, they are twisting the facts.Recommend
He is one hell of a maniac. Sitting in Washington he would say Pakistan army doesn’t have any direction or strategy to fight terrorism and terrorists. Visiting Pakistan, he would praise Pakistani role in the war. They are not serious with either Pakistan nor the so-called war. They continue to fail in producing any results in Afghanistan or Iraq, so they blame it all on Pakistan and that it refuses to launch a major and effective offensive against the tribals. In the end its about fooling their own citizens back in the US and buying support from the puppets leading Pakistan.Recommend
Dude, they just want you to tell them how evil India is and that you are willing to help thwart Indias mischevious designs and aspirations…and some dollars as well…now that the Department of Defence has taken over from the Department of State in relation to distributing aid to Pakistan, you can just dish out the toys to the boys.Recommend
@TightDhoti:
What a nonsense comment, just trying to put India in every bit of the news of Pak.Recommend
Now it is clearly proven that USA is beaten in the Afghan war, and they (US) have also realised that they can’t win there. but if they pull out, then how they will convince their own nation for all the money, bein wasted in he so called war.
They are just putting pressure on Pakistan, and as usual our politicians, beaurocracy & army will do the same as they say.Recommend
WSJ suggest that usa should tell pakistan that usa would bomb pakistan to stone age. make no mistake about it if this happens, we will wipe out usa’s friend. pakistan is capable of that. we can’t reach usa and also ordinary american has no knowledege what their govt is doing.they are innocent peopple.Recommend
Pakistan can turn table even at the eleventh hour, so USA is worried about strategic depth Pakistan has even after decades of NATO attrocities in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They want to engage Pakistan in a dirty battle to trap them in a new conflict. American intelligence was clearly exposed in last 10 years. They are bubble gum with few bursts only.Recommend
Only in Pakistan can someone give you a compliment and have people complain – pathetic.Recommend
Pakistan should realize that USA losing in Afghanistan shall have grave consequences for itself. If Taliban all probabilities will takeover afghanistan which also means Talibanization of Pakistan. Also USA would extract its revenge on pakistan no matter what. Stoppage of Aid will have grave consequences on Pakistan already faltering economy and how would Pakistan fights its own terror.
Pakistan cannot hurt USA owing to geographic distance and would ultimate result in its own destruction. But, i guess its already too late now with radicalization rampant and Pakistani`s in their hate towards USA are unable to see its future.
All the best Pakistan, which ever way.Recommend
@TightDhoti:
What kind of cigarettes are you smoking these days??Recommend
@ Mike Mullen: Your following statement not only makes sense…It reflects your helplessness as a military commander too!
“We’re going to have a very tough year this year,” he told reporters. “I’ve been very straight with the American people on that. I think our losses, which were significant last year, will be significant this year as well.”
You know very well that you are involved in an un-winnable war. The Afghan land and its people both are historically impregnable. They were never defeated and they were never forced to submit.
The lesson is to go back and tell your President and Congress that the best way out, as I have conveyed to your Ambassador in Pakistan also through one of my comments, to replace the outdated and over-exposed fake theme of “War on Terror” with a “War against Social and Economic Evils” to win back the hearts and minds of the deprived people and under-developed countries.
BELIEVE ME…YOU HAVE NO OTHER OPTION…NO ONE IS MIGHTIER THAN GOD AND GOD IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE KNOWING WELL THAT YOU REALLY DO TRUST IN GOD..!Recommend
@xyz:
America’s friend do not need outside help or strategic assets to respond to your threats. And they have done so in the past. Stop issuing bogus threats with your second world war set up.Recommend
If the pakistanis would just kill or arrest Bin Laden, all would be forgiven. Until then, the drones will continue.Recommend
I am happy that the US higher officials now openly speak of the ISI-terrorist nexus. This is something India has been stating for nearly 2 decades and Washington never openly mentioned it in any official capacity. Cameron was the first to state this as part of his government’s position. We’ll have to wait and see what the ramifications of this will be. Pakistani goals in supporting terrorism is at best hazy and has only sent its economy into a tailspin. Interesting times ahead. China just wants to keep out of this affair altogether.Recommend
There are lot of rumors US is defeated by Taliban, US is leaving Afghanistan, US is a friend of Pakistan…All false assumptions, such a big power who also has big brains plus intelligence network, how can they be defeated by that way? They are not going from Afghanistan. They are digging bases for the whole region including Central Asia. Their statement that the way Pakistan protect itself in the region is unacceptable, is actually to protect India in future from Pakistan. In next decade they will make India a safe regional power for further en devours.Recommend
@tightdhoti
you must be wearing Gandhi ki Dhoti dude :DRecommend
@TightDhoti: Why do you Indians insist on spreading nonsense at every occasion. We all know that your nation is behind much of the instability in the region. The West will leave and Pakistan will have to safeguard its Western border from the criminals you send in from Afghanistan.Recommend
@Billoo Bhaya: hahaha, noce comment on tight dhottiRecommend
Now we must demand a pay rise and some extra role in Afghan settlement. Instead of strategic depth inside Afghanistan, we should worry about the strategic depth the taliban have created in Pakistan. If taliban dont reconcile, then Afghanistan could be partitioned along ethnic lines and that would be a disaster for pakistan. US would pack their bags and leave, nobody is going to blow up their schools. And a deadly situation would be a taliban based pushtoon nationalist movement. Its a myth that afghan taliban are entirely under pakistan’s control. In the 90s, Mullah Umer refused to accept the Durand line, and even refused to hand over few sectarian terrorists involved in crimes inside pakistan.Recommend
@Zahid Hussain Khalid:
What you’re saying is similar to claiming that stopping ‘target killings’ is an ‘un-winnable’ war. This is not a war. It is about eliminating terrorism – or at least reducing it. Victory is measured by the number of terrorists killed. What does Pakistan gain by supporting these terrorists? It will end up alienating the rest of the world and the only friend it will have is the Taliban. Good luck with that scenario.Recommend
It look like a street story….if few childrens are playing and end up in doing something wrong (broken window glass) then they starts blaming each other,,,,it happen because of you….you were trying to hit the windows…..same is happening here….but in short Mullen wants drone schedule back….and it is haivng army,ISI and Govt repute at stake in Pakistan as well….
And for all specially for Mullen beaware India will get in to this mess because they know what is happening to Pakistan….not even for dollars…..Mark my words…its Pakistani politicians who get is….Recommend
Dont worry nuclear war is over…let the weather wars begin
http://karachimetrological.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/weather-wars-is-it-possible/Recommend
@Maria:
Honey, @TightDhoti is a Pakistani. Just visit his blog.
Now, let me ask why you Pakistanis insist on bringing India into your rants about USA.Recommend
Great Discussion….India and Pakistan cant have separate identity. The more both will pretend to be different more they will appear same. One which will try to separate will be doing something which will be fatal.Recommend
@Uncle Sam u said: “If the pakistanis would just kill or arrest Bin Laden, all would be forgiven. Until then, the drones will continue.”
How stupid r u? u still think this is abt Osama??? lolzzzzzRecommend
Nothing wrong he said, Pakistani Millitary had always had ties with Taliban & other terrorist organisations – The reason they continue to thrive without any fear on its soil.Recommend
Pakistan is a sham amongst all Muslim nations, atleast others, while they’re not progressive but they’re at peace with themselves! Doomsday is nearing!Recommend
@Tightdhoti –
Knowing how India-centric you already are, it won’t be surprising if I let you know that India is behind all the drones attacks happening there & you guys are so helpless that you cannot stop someone from bombarding your own land! Pity!Recommend
@Uzair Javaid:
Mullen is telling the truth. What he says is consistent with what everyone else in the world believes to be true about Pakistan. That is, it supports terrorists. You can hate it and scream and yell all you want, but that is what the rest of the world thinks about your country. Everyone is tired of the games your military plays. The only reason Pakistan can’t be ignored is because it exports terrorists to other countries and it has nukes. If you guys go down, many of your people will be fleeing to other parts of the world. And no one wants to see that. You guys are going to do down the tube if you don’t fix this and many other problems. Tough, but that’s reality. And quit blaming everyone else for your problems. Not the Indians, Americans, Israelis, Martians, or any other kind of aliens. Own up to your problems and fix them. No one in the world owes you guys anything. You have gotten so used to hand-outs, that you think the world owes you. It does not own you anything and expects normal, civilized behavior from your countryRecommend
This is strategic readjustments which both countries are making. The sound and thuds are labor pains which is going to give birth to culturally changed countries in central and south Asia.
Pakistan was left high and dry in 1989. USA is trying to run away again and garland Pakistan with all the mess that it has created in last ten years. Pakistan has also shifted its position. After seeing USA running form battle field, Pakistan has started mending fences with Taliban that it had abandoned in the aftermath of 9/11. War does not determine who is right – only who is left. ~Bertrand Russell
The problem with war is that “you can start a war but it end on its own terms”. Today Pakistan like USA stands equally bruised and injured. It will take years and billions upon billions of coins to over come the ravages of Afghan war.
“A great war leaves the country with three armies – an army of cripples, an army of mourners, and an army of thieves”. ~German Proverb.Recommend
Islamabad’s reply may have been : which Haqqani?Recommend
@rgg: You need a break from CNN and Fox news my friend. You’ve had enough of the ready made nutrition prepared by the west propagating its interests in form of news on private channels. The west is too lazy to find the real facts, all they have is a bowl of cereal with CNN on their TV set, what they see is what they get in their heads. US failed in Afghanistan so carried its crap across the Pakistani side to help their people not asking any questions on why their soldiers are being killed there and why is it they went there. 10 years and no sign of what their high level targets were. If they say Pakistan has links with Haqqani network, we say they have TTP in Pakistan working against PAKISTANIS. They need to dismantle their terror network across Pakistan in order for them being worthy enough of pointing at us.Recommend
@ILLIDAN and Maria: I guess the sarcasm was abit too subtle. I am not obsessed with India, but our military is. General Kayani has clearly stated that he views India as his primary threat. Commentators rant about the “String of Indian consulates” in Afghanistan, and Pakistan has repeatadly pushed the US to recognize Pakistan’s concerns regarding increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan. Who else do you think our policy of strategic depth is against? The difference between US and Pakistani interests in Afghanistan is based on Pakistans long term threat perception of Indian incirclement and US interests of thwarting terrorism while not rocking the boat with a rising economic power such as India.Recommend
@Pragmatist – how about yourown terrorist indian agency, sitting in themiddleof desertin afghanistan and issung visas to spirits or funding instability inPakistan, 13 consulates in the middleof no where and crying peace, ISI is faced with 13 intelligence agencies of the world and the new masters (USA) india is trying hard to find for itself, is crying now of their defeats in afghanistan and wants a scape goat, but it is not going to be ISI this time, insofar as bogus threats are concerned, india is scared of what will happen once usa steps out, everyone knows whats gonna happen, you would have to tuck your tail and run too, so before USA leaves, you wish to make sure that whatever dirty designs you have on Pakistan, which offcourse you could never do it by yourselves, get accomplished through usa. lets wait until 2014 and you will see,
@srinath, just like india’s response on every dog killed on the road that it must be ISI drivingRecommend
@rgg, i guess by rest of the world you mean your own country, and by the way we as a nation dont beg for pennies, its the poeple who brought the so called politicians, but that is not begging as those thugs are brought by them (US) in the first place, its tantamount to paid for their services, the biggest disadvantage we have is india, fuelling insurgency and instability in Pakistan since its brirth, what you did in East Pakistan and have been doing ever since, how about your consulates funding terrorists to strike Pakistan in every city and the puppet govt in afghanistan which you pay monthly. we have our ownselves to blame for many things just as you do, rest of the world does not even know what india is let lone be Pakistan, and what about your people leaving your country, you guys purport to be in the best of situation yeah, then how about all the mass exodus to middle east and all parts of the world !! i guess the australians were right about you, in time the whole world will,Recommend
@ Pragmatist
I hope you know that why target killing is not stopped. It is not stopped because those who are responsible for putting an end to it are themselves allegedly involved in target killing for extortion. Same is the case with war against terror. Those who have raised the false flag of war against terror are themselves killing and terrorizing people in Asia, in Africa, in Europe, in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. They have coined the term War against Terror for Geo-Economic War Game for Rapid Deployment of Military Forces across the globe just to achieve their strategic military and commercial objectives.
On top of all that do you think the people in Afghanistan who can’t spell science and technology can pose a “THREAT” and “TERRORIZE” a nation that leads the world in science and technology? Can Afghans create any problem for a country that has the capability to eliminate Afghanistan from the map of the world with blink of an eye? Yes…America can eliminate Afghanistan from the map of the world BUT it can not force the Afghans to accept military defeat. This is not what I believe in this is a PROVEN, ACKNOWLEDGED HISTORICAL REALITY! Ask Churchill if you have any doubt!Recommend
@Hiran:
You guys and Rehman Malik have been parroting about India’s involvement in destabilizing Pakistan for over 2 years now. When asked for proof, Mr.Malik says it will only be released at the “appropriate time“. When is this time coming? We are waiting for the proof ourselves. On the other hand, Pakistan’s involvement is presented complete with proof and your own national Kasab along with Rana and Headley who have all implicated the ISI.Recommend
The whole World believes that the ISI are supporting terrorist – everyone except the Pakistani people – you know the same people that don’t know that that the ISI doesn’t report to the civilian authorities and the same people who seem to put in chronically corrupt/inept politicians and blame everything on the USA/Mossad/India and Russia.
When the whole World tells you you stink – it’s time to take a bath.Recommend
@Hiran: Live in denial, we don’t have problem… after all it’s your mind, it’s your strategic asset… It’s your choice. Just do not send these strategic assets to all over the world specially to India. Keep these zombies in your country only. Remember your forefathers were indinas. We are one of the oldest civilisation on planet earth. We have survive 5000 years we will survibve in future too. Thanks.Recommend
@Hiran
13 consulates in the middleof no where and crying peace,
Care naming all the thirteen and supplying some credible reference as well.
While you battle with your fiction let me supply you with some facts’ India has 4 consulates in Afghanistan, Herat,Jalabad, Kandhar and Mazar-e-Sharif .http://meakabul.nic.in/
Pakistan has 3 consulates in Afghanistan, Herat, Kandhar and Mazar-e-Sharif
http://pakistan.visahq.com/embassy/Afghanistan/
And now the clincher, India is extending help USD 1.7 billion on Hospitals, Roads, Power Projects in Afghanistan. How much is Pakistan spending, please?
And did you read Gen Kayani’s statement assuring the Baloch that Army will get back to barracks in Balochistan in 2 months. Million Dollar question is, if India is destabilising Balochistan, why is Kayani promising to rein in the Pak Army.Recommend
Where is the people’s elected government and assembly and politician. No comment from government, opposition on Mullen’s allegation nor any response on Kayani’s comments. It looks the foriegn affair matters are beng dealt by the Armed forces from both side. Democratic institutions should protect their grounds.Recommend
@Cautious:
The whole world thought Saddam Hussien had WMDs…whats your point ?Recommend
@Uzair Javaid:
American’s control the TTP network in Pakistan? Really? Care to provide any links to information or data in open sources to back up your claim? Never heard anything about this before. Perhaps you are quoting Pakistani TV channels. Sounds totally bogus to me. What is probably more accurate to say is that the CIA is conducting operations in Pakistan to hunt down the terrorists. If they are, I say go for it and do more, since Pakistan will not do so itself. Eradicate the vermin. We will all be better off for that and so will PakistanRecommend
To all Indian , shut up and mind your own business , deal your naxalites who are the biggest internal threat to India
As of 2009, Naxalites were active across approximately 180 districts in ten states of India accounting for about 40% of India’s geographical area, They are especially concentrated in an area known as the “Red corridor”, where they control 92,000 square kilometres. According to India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, 20,000 armed cadre Naxalites were operating in addition to 50,000 regular cadres and their growing influence prompted Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to declare them to be the most serious internal threat to India’s national security.
On 6 April, 2010 Naxalites launched the biggest assault in the history of the Naxalite movement by killing 76 security personnel. The attack was launched by up to 1,000 Naxalites in a well-planned attack, killing an estimated 76 CRPF policemen in two separate ambushes and wounding 50 others, in the jungles of Chattisgarh’s Dantewada district. On 17th May, Naxals blew up a bus on Dantewda-sukhma road in Chhattisgarh, killing 15 policemen and 20 civilians. In third Major attack by Naxals on 29th June, at least 26 personnels of Indian Centre Reserve Forces (CRPF) were killed in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh.Recommend
@Haytt:
Thats right. All these Indians must leave this message board so we Pakistanis can make up our own paranoid stories. By the way Haytt, what do Naxalites have to do with Pakistani terrorists causing mayhem and destruction in other countries. Does the Indian government pay the Naxalites to set of bombs in other countries?Recommend
@Ron(Indian): Ron didn’t I tell you earlier to learn how to spell and some proper grammar.
“Remember your forefathers were indinas.” Dude, I think you meant Indians, what happened can’t spell in your hurry to leave anti-Pakistan comments?
“We are one of the oldest civilisation on planet earth.” Alright, now you make no sense whatsoever. The word you were looking for was “civilization” and not civilisation, and it’s Planet Earth and not planet earth. Forgot your lesson about proper nouns?
“We have survive 5000 years we will survibve in future too.” Hahahaha that was the icing on the cake, truly funny and grammatically incorrect. The word you should have used is “survived” and not survive since you are talking about the past. And for the “survibve” confusion, the word is “survive”. So Ron, before you think of commenting again, do us all a favor and learn how to spell. If you can’t do that, then just use spell-check. Hilarious and priceless ;-)Recommend
@Haytt
To all Indian , shut up and mind your own business , deal your naxalites who are the biggest internal threat to India
In case you did not notice the issue here is Mullen’s statement and the threat to the entire world by Pakistan sponsored terrorists.
A threat specific to India alone, specially a threat not sponsored by India may disappear with the disappearance of the threat to the world. So don’t worry, be happy that the marines are coming.Recommend