ISLAMABAD:
US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen ignored Islamabad when he visited Afghanistan over the weekend, in what could be his last trip to the region before he retires in September this year.
This is a rare instance when a top US military commander opted not to make a stopover in Pakistan while visiting neighbouring Afghanistan, a Pakistani military official said.
Relations between the two key allies in the war on terror have remained precarious since a unilateral US midnight raid on Pakistani soil in which al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad on May 2.
Last month, Washington withheld $800 million worth of military assistance to Pakistan in a move that was viewed as punishment for Islamabad’s decision to expel the American military trainers and restrict the movement of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives in the country.
In his farewell trip to southern and eastern Afghanistan last weekend, the top US military commander said that the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan was still the world’s most dangerous area — calling it the ‘epicentre of terrorism’.
In an interview with the BBC, he said that, unless they moved against terrorists such as the Afghan Haqqani network, it could affect relations between Washington and Islamabad.
He admitted relations were still very strained in the wake of the Bin Laden raid, which embarrassed the Pakistan military.
But he insisted that the answer was not to sever ties.
(Read: Despite strain, Pak-US not close to split, says Mullen)
Despite his strong statement, Pakistan military officials believe Mullen was amongst the few US officials who understood Pakistan’s position ‘better’ than other US high officials.
He was considered to have a ‘soft’ approach towards Pakistan and had been the key US interlocutor with the Pakistan military.
Mullen accompanied US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in a crucial visit to Pakistan on May 27 to discuss the fallout of the Abbottabad raid.
He was also believed to have enjoyed ‘good relations’ with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
“Given his [Mullen] affinity with the top Pakistani leadership, it was surprising he did not visit,” said the official.
The Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) tried to down play the development.
“He had no plans to visit Pakistan,” said an ISPR official.
But there were indications that the top US military commander was planning to stop in Pakistan in a bid to iron out differences between the two countries.
Some officials linked the development with the ongoing tensions between the two countries.
“It is obvious that the relations between the two countries are not ideal,” said another official.
“The Americans are upset over certain steps we have taken in recent weeks and Mullen’s decision to ignore Pakistan is a sign of tensions between the two states,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS (23)
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@M:
Thanks for enlightening me.
I hope Pakistanis realize the price they have to pay in the long run for confronting the US. Whether we like it or not, the US is the 500-pound gorilla in the room. China for all its so-called development is still miles behind the US in the economic front. China has nearly 5 times the population but less than 50% of US's GDP.
@ashok sai
That's what you think, but when they do visit, they always like it here more than in India.
Mullen is on his way to a happy retirement, let us wish him all the best. I do not think he had too many friends in Pakistan and he simply skipped the country. It must not be forgotten that Mullen was one of few to voice pro Pakistan views on Capitol Hill. He still could not get the Pakistani Military to act against the Taliban. Now on most of the American commanders will adopt a hard line because unlike Mullen they would not like to lose face. China will show its true mercenary colours when the country is ditched by offering nothing but full moral support. Also they will fleece the country by offering sub standard products no one would want to buy.
Frankly a bunch of silly and fairly offensive comments. Pakistan and USA have a difficult relationship. They have different interests (despite some overlap), and are looking to protect them. That's what the military official probably meant when he said Mullen understands Pakistan's position better than other Americans.
Pakistan allies itself with some militant elements for strategic reasons, not because we agree with their ideology. Wasn't the US allied with Karzai's brother in Afghanistan? These are harsh realities of the world.
Nothing serious, they are angry becasue their full demands are not met, which is fine, he will come back, if not, it does not matter, such moves will keep on happening and we should not give it any heed.
While Pakistan disentangles from it, India goes into a deadly embrace with the Yankees. We can see the future already, which holds good for Pakistan, bad for India..
Glad to see the true colors of USA being surfaced. I hope it will open the eyes of all those patriotic Pakistanis who consider USA as our true friend.
I think he was scared for being detained by the Pakistani military since US has stopped providing financial aid to the military.
So what? I dont think America is GOD. Surely the americans used Pakistan, gave it financial loss to the tune of $68 billions in return of $12 billion called aid, got its 50,000 citizens killed in a War which had nothing to do with Pakistan. To top it all, facilitated India to be a stake holder and a strategic partner in this game so as to directly threaten Pakistan from both eastren and westren borders.
Pakistan has the capabilty to defend it self and no one should dare think of taking away its Nuclear Assets as this will turn out to be a very painful lesson for them.
No foreigner willing to visit Pakistan unless it is forced, this is the reality.
The mood in Washington has turned really sour. And, I would surprised that if it gets better deep underneath.
Pakistan is going the way North Korea is. After 2014 we'll see the full effects of it.
bye bye mullen -- if i never see you again that wont be soon enough.
Admiral Mullen supported Pakistan to a hilt and was betrayed by GHQ/ISI. Pakistanis excel in burning bridges with the US, despite constantly wishing to be super allies of the US.
No Human wants to visit Pakistan let alone an American generel. He would convey his greetings through the drones, guess Pakis understand only the language of drones.
Before the end of this Pakistan can expect many more surprises from USA. Obama Nobel prize winner for Peace is waiting for an opportune moment to cap Pakistan's nuke ambitions.
About time. USA was getting default, they can't feed endless Pakistani politicans'/army mouth.
Just the begining. Wait until the US vetoes any funds from ADB, IMF and WB for Pakistan. Maybe the Pakistan Govt believes the Chinese will bail them out, but good luck the chinese will do anything for a dollar, even sell poison milk to their citizens
tension tension tension....these stories are making confusion and believe me we Pakistanis will be in mental hospitals very soon due to mental torture of our media.
Mullen is aware that the USA is fed up and knows that the time for deal making is over --- the time for containment has begun. The USA has already approached the fellow members of the Security Council and the combination of terrorism, instability, inept politicians/military/ intelligence has given the SC common cause to agree to reign in Pakistan -- nuclear material are first on the list. The myth of China being a staunch ally of Pakistan is about to come to an abrupt end.
He probably thought that all the high ranking military and intelligence officials would be busy following and harassing American diplomats.