US CENTCOM chief in Pakistan, meets General Kayani

Officials discuss Haqqani network and cross-border raids from Afghanistan.

ISLAMABAD: United States (US) head of Central Command General James Mattis called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to discuss matters of regional security and defence, Express 24/7 reported on Saturday.

Express 24/7 correspondent Sumera Khan said US official had arrived in Islamabad late Friday.

Sources said the issue of Haqqani network was discussed in detail during the meeting. General Kayani highlighted the fact that statements from US officials alleging Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) support for the group was disturbing cooperation between the US and Pakistan.

The issue of cross-border raids was also discussed during the meeting.

The meeting between the two top officials comes after allegations that the ISI had helped militants attack the US embassy in Kabul.

In a hard-hitting statement before a Senate panel on Thursday, US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen openly accused Inter-Services Intelligence agency of supporting Haqqani insurgents in planning and executing a 22-hour assault on the US Embassy in Afghanistan last week and a truck bomb that wounded 77 American soldiers days earlier.