Days before he retires as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen has said that Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency has been supporting ‘proxies’ as a strategy.
Addressing the audience at the think-tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Mullen adopted a critical tone and focused on the Inter-Services Intelligence agency’s (ISI) links with proxies in the regions, which he said was part of their strategy. “The ISI has to make this decision to strategically disengage. They have been supporting proxies for an extended period of time,” he said. “The Haqqani piece of this has got to be reversed.”
He said that he had met General Kayani for four hours in Seville, Spain, on September 16 on the sidelines of the Nato conference, where they discussed the Haqqani network.
When asked if General Kayani had given him a commitment on action against the Haqqani network, Mullen evaded a reply by saying that he had managed to protect his relationship with Kayani by not talking in detail about what was discussed in their meetings. “We have a very close relationship … the strength of the connection is what is important so that we can get through hard times.”
In response to a question about US assistance with helicopters for Pakistan, Mullen said that while the US had provided a large amount of military equipment to Pakistan and had focused on helicopters, he did not believe there was a direct link between improving Pakistan’s helicopter fleet and an operation in North Waziristan.
Speaking about India and Pakistan, Mullen said there was a need to understand what Pakistan’s interests were. He added that Pakistan believes India is an existentialist threat to it, but “solving Kashmir unlocks the whole place,” and was the path for long-term solutions.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at the Pentagon, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said that Pakistani officials must exercise control over their country’s border to tackle the Haqqani network. “The network cannot be allowed to cross the border, attack troops in Afghanistan and then cross back into Pakistan through the border.”
Referring to Mullen’s recent meeting with Kayani, Panetta said that “we think they (Pakistan) have heard the message.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2011.
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**If the U.S had any sanity left, they would've been showing it right now. But after seeing the clear loss in a useless war for nearly a decade in Afghanistan, instead of running away like the former USSR, they are still trying to put blame elsewhere. Vietnam revisisted.
who's a brave person? one who realizes his mistakes, sees through them, and takes correctional measures that the same never get repeated again.
who's a coward? one who keeps making mistakes, and for which not only he, but also others suffer. just like using NUCLEAR BOMBS on innocent civilians. some brave military!!**
My Dear Americans: We have to look after our own interests. We cant fight with our own people and with our neighbours. So u must fight because u r here to fight, thousands of miles away from ur country without any good reason.
@Kazmis because faraz is not infected with Zaid Hamidism . . . who cant stop propagating GHQ trash over cyber space and media. No one but the people of PAK and its leadership is destroying this country. If anyone still wants to be blind, the world cant help. We already have paid the price in 1971.
@Moise: US is now replacing their bangles with Boxing gloves. Watch out
@faraz: How do you say the same group are killing Pakistanis in Pakistan? There are so many neighbors of our who are indulged in these activities by using our own people like in Karachi for this game to destabilize Pakistan, but it is also a fact Pakistan could not be destabilized though wounded but standing on foot, like a brave warrior.
US should also stop CIA links with Israelis militants if they want to clear themselves...
YAAH GOOD IDEA: USA TO DISENGAGE FROM ISRAEL
@Roflcopter
Haqqani already said they’re no longer in Pakistan.
And Pakistan had repeatedly denied the presence of OBL and Quetta Shura. Haqqani's statement seems to be as true also.
America needs to quit moaning and admit defeat in Afghanistan.
And some people need to quit being duplicitous all the time.
Pakistan should disengage from neighbourhood and America should engage them as being endeavoured....wow... great idea....
@Haq: mr haq,bangesh and faraz your comments got max recommendations,this means American are legitimate owner and occupier of Afghanistan and our destiny continue bulling every body around .It is very unfortunate for all us when people like your type are there.Are you all proud of something like freedom
Only Americans are authorize to proxy war and double gaming,this what Pakistan is experiencing through USA's TTP .
@Roflcopter: You seem to believe Haqqani too much. On this count you are a rarity in this world, you must know that. The war is not over my dear. The war just saw its turning point. Pakistan is the new battlefield. US has put Pakistan on the back foot and this is hurting Pakistan. Can't you see Pakistan limping. If you eyes are so enamored with Haqqani and the likes just wait sometime and you will see Pakistan developing Gangrene. That will surely not be a sweet think to happen.
Admiral Mullen is not at all fair to the Pak intelligence agencies by asking them to disengage from the strategic assets, which is same as fish taken out of water and then expect them to survive.
If the US is so frustrated with Pakistan,why doesn’t it carryout Operation against the Haqqanis by it self, It will than realize how dearly they pay for it. Pakistan is already paying through daily bombings/suicide attacks in the backlash for its operations against the Talibans. Should Pakistan launches Operations in North Waziristan, this country will get turned in to hell and this is primarily what all these so called well wishers want.
IF Haqani has left Pakistan,then why the road to kurram is still blocked?Or there is the movement of VIP?You can not cheat Americans any more.They know that the sectarian war is always created for some ulterior motives in this part of the world.Kurram and Quetta have increasingly become the targets simply to facilitate the movements of Haqani fighters.Those who are living in kurram and Quetta know it very well but they are helpless,waiting for?......
i just dont get it... when americans can stage raids like abottabad and strike with drone attacks when ever they please why can not they work own the erradication of haqqani network one their own? they seem to be a threat to them only and so far americans have taken care of every treat that has bothered them and pakistan.. why can not they device their stratgy focusing their own soilders and assets and leave us alone since we have already been left out on major occasions?
AMERICA & NATO MUST MAKE CONCRETE EFFORTS TO PROTECT THEIR DIPLOMATS AND SOLDIERS INSTEAD OF BLAMING PAKISTAN!!! ACCEPT YOUR OWN FAILURE!!!
@Pundit: Mr. Pundit why US has bangles?
So what exactly is Nato doing in Afghanistan? The Haqqanis travel lets say at least 100 miles from N Waziristan to Kabul, bomb the US embassy and return to N Waziristan and that too on foot and bicycles. And they evade the drones, the radars, the 150,000 NATO troops. I mean seriously, what exactly is NATO doingin Afghanistan?
its a big proof of victory of Taliban against U.S.A & NATO :-D
The same Proxies will ultimately conquer China, India, Russia & the Caucus states.
@Mirza: Indeed. The number of negative statements and open accusations that are coming from the US makes one wonder if something greater is afoot. As though the US is slowly but steadily building a case to invade Pakistan or at least seriously hobble the 'establishment'
When will we learn, after creation of another Bangladesh!
One down ( USSR) ,one,to go ( US of A)
Looks like it is beginning of the end for Pakistani establishment. There is a limit of dobule crossing and two timing.
It is a long way from Kabul to Pakistan border. US is trying to hide its utter incompetence. If you can't police Afghanistan why find scapegoats. Be a man and own your mistakes.
@Babloo: Looks like the Strategic Assets are straining the Strategic Relationship by creating Strategic Problems and causing Strategic Rupture in the Strategic Depth in Strategic Way.
@Roflcopter: "Haqqani already said that he is not in pakistan....."
And Pakistan had already said that OBL was not in pakistan.....
Such denials generally prove the converse....
@Roflcopter: "Haqqani already said they’re no longer in Pakistan. America needs to quit moaning and admit defeat in Afghanistan."
To be accurate that was what the Paksitani military establishment wanted Haqqani to say.
If our slave govt had the guts..it would have told mullen and pannetta to get out of Afghanistan and shut the hell up...
Gen. Kiyani and ISI ought to explain to the nation why they are still supporting Haqqani or any other Militant groups. For God sake leave Afghanistan alone. Afghanistan has no future why do we want to tie our future and drown with them. Our army generals need a crash course on how rapidly world is changing and the directions it is going.
Haqqani already said they're no longer in Pakistan. America needs to quit moaning and admit defeat in Afghanistan.
Strategic command , with its strategic vision have created strategic assets who are part of the strategy to dig a strategic hole. The hole keeps getting bigger.
The Obama administration is in office most likely for next 14 months. It will be followed by a next set of fools who are no match to the 'negotiating abilitry' of the establishment. The establishment will get a new administration to make fools of after next elections. The cycle will continue.
The delusional FA pass strategists actually dreamt of conquering Central Asia, Afghanistan and Kashmir through militant groups. Now the same groups are slaughtering our own people.
Sorry Mr Mullen, GHQ believes a Great Game is being played and that supporting Haqqani/Taliban protects "Pakistan's interests".
Replay of 1990's is on the cards in Pakistan and public will suffer while our idiot GHQ continues its strategic depth and other baloney military policies abroad.
Hmm,,Same old delusional theory of Panetta