Pakistan

US CENTCOM chief in Pakistan, meets General Kayani

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

Express September 24, 2011

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.

COMMENTS (33)

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply

@Sadia: I gave my reply to your comments but unfortunately ET didnt publish it. Regards R S Johar

Usama Yousaf | 13 years ago | Reply America "we are waiting" and also keep in mind that we are super power breakers......... Over and all.

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Sadia | 13 years ago | Reply

@R S JOHAR: so 'bravo' for a move that time can tell to be wrong?

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply

@R.A: abbottabad isnt in punjab.indian troll Osama Bin Laden died along time ago in 2005

Pragmatist | 13 years ago | Reply

Finding OBL changed everything. It will be a long time before Pakistan's credibility is restored. Right now, their denials is seen as tacit admittance.

the Skunk | 13 years ago | Reply

@Omer: Good! Very good! The sooner the better.

Be thankful of the physiological F-A-C-T that every human being has a head, torso, two arms and two legs, to think and put into GOOD use.

My brother as the saying goes, "At the end of a rainbow, there is a pot of gold." Salams to you and don't let despondency rule your life.

Absar | 13 years ago | Reply

Both the sides, US and Pakistan, are merely pursuing their "national interests" and which makes every speech against terrorism by America as a mere purple prose. As for Pakistan, it is same: Pakistan is looking after her interest. The trick is that since US has an awful influence over Pakistan it usually gets successful in achieving her interest. To not start an operation against Haqqani is our choice, a best choice, and we must stand by it. This is a good analysis by Ejaz Haider on why Pakistan shouldn't start operation in North Waziristan. A must read: http://tribune.com.pk/story/192710/no-to-o...iristan-agency/

Rao. | 13 years ago | Reply

@Md Naeem,

Very sensinble comments.

We need't to toe US's lines. But we need to make our house in order

Doctor | 13 years ago | Reply

@ Mohammad - you are right but let's not forget we brought the OBL saga upon ourselves by becoming so untrustworthy.

Dr. Salim | 13 years ago | Reply @syed baqar ahsan: thanks to people like you who spread lies that quite many innocent Pakistani is under chronic prejudices against India. Constant denial of your faults and blaming others will never fix your problem.

Mohammad naeem | 13 years ago | Reply Right now we have nothing except compromise after the episode of OBL. the foxy americans have followed their right plan to isolate us. So Lets follow our right plan to come out of this tough time with more strength and progress. 1.break with haqanis (what gud they can do for us more than we ourselves) 2. Pay attention to solve our flood and denge problems sincerely. 3. Focus on karachi and return its economic activity to fullest potential. 4. Liberalize trade with india, iran and other neighboring countries. 5. Prepare for next elections to make way for more acountablity and more democracy. And after some years time now..no super power will be able to even rebute us leave aside to threat our soverenty. So its time to be on back foot. Hold our emotions and use our senses. This chalenge is an opertunity in disguise.

nasir | 13 years ago | Reply @Gen Pasha (retd): General....media and s called intelligentia of your country are insane. They neither have sense of integrity nor pride.With such elements, I dont think Pakistan will ever prosper.They give example of Indian Progress...but they dont stand behind their army and the government when it is most needed. This attitude is a bigger threat for Pkaistan than US and terrorism. Your so called intellectuals are really out to please the west.

Shahbaz | 13 years ago | Reply

whats the prize Pakistan is chasing? ...pride in achivement, a common purpose and value, economic prosperity and social harmony.

for that we should build alliances and continue to excel at global and regional trade and intellectual research. if we can ally economically with the chinese, doing it with the indians will pay bigger dividends for Pakistani businesses.

as for being resolute on a national spirit.. thats something each Pakistani will have to look inwards to resolve who they are before people can come together. Clearly, today, this is a nation bordering on intolerance and outright violent hatred of its internal community - we need to come to terms with the fact that as a nation of cultures, we are diverse and tolerant and celebrate and support each other rather than go around shooting people during prayer , sports and so on ....

this is where Pakistan differs from leading nations - people from leading nations understand that killing each other and breeding hatred is not an ecomically beneficial activity.....

so dudes ...get it together...

Abdul Sattar Qamar | 13 years ago | Reply

Everyone has curiosity what is happening in Pakistan.Our rulers should avoid apologetic attitude

pakshia | 13 years ago | Reply let americans come and kill all terrorists who kill shias.

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply

In fact US thought that verbal bashing will not work so now they have come to tightly "Twist Our Arms". All sounds like You Scratch My Back & I Will Scratch Your Back. Now both parties will sit down and work on real time strategy against Haqqani Group. The rest news is for the consumption of Hypnotized Rabbits that we as a nation are ......obviously.

Peace On Earth | 13 years ago | Reply Our leaders vehemently denied that OBL was in Pakistan despite American reports that he was most likely somewhere near the border or in the NWFP. Forward few months later and guess who is found hiding right under the noise of the Pakistani military-- OBL. I don't understand how Pakistanis continue to oppose America and deny what they say when time and time again. The Haqqani Network does not care about Pakistanis, they only want to destroy this country and turn it into another Afghanistan/Saudi Arabia. As a Pakistani, I say let the America military come in and get rid of these pests once and for all so we can move on as a nation and rebuild.

biryani | 13 years ago | Reply

just makeup.... they are frens

Nasir | 13 years ago | Reply @Asif Maalik: I agree with your first point but your second point is wrong. To create a block with other countries will be difficult as long as our main national export commodity is terrorism. They have a lot to offer us but what do we have to offer them? The reason India is in such a strong position is because they are an economic superpower willing and able to spend Billions on products and services from any of these countries you have mentioned. We on the other hand approach these same countries with our bowl for Aid.

Gen Pasha (retd) | 13 years ago | Reply @syed baqar ahsan: You are living in Disneyland - the Pak forces trained the Taliban (although we took funding from a multitude of sources including Middle Eastern countries and US) My old boss Mr Zia Ul Haq took Pakistan down this road with a strategy that deviated from our founding father Jinnah saabs vision - IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE I have fought for my country and seen many of my close friends murdered by terrorists. May I ask you what you have done for your country apart from blame others - its time for all of us to accept responsibility and fix the problem before Pakistan is destroyed

Shahid | 13 years ago | Reply

I am glad that general Kiyani came forward and denied the allegations in Public although suspicious in Past I have no reason not to believe him.

Asif Maalik | 13 years ago | Reply

I believe war against terrorism now has become inevitable for our own interests. Pakistan should get rid of all terrorists including Haqqanies though all they were American assets against Soviets in recent past but now Pakistan must disown all such so-called ‘strategic assets’ and bulldoze them completely for the sake of Pakistan.

On the other hand, Pakistan and America has been bounded in love and hate relationship and vital ally of each other. If American can afford to loose Pakistan, may I remind Pakistan has an option of composing a block with the help of China, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE. If such block is formed it will not care of American interests in the region.

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply Its imprudent on part of Establishment to be choosing Haqqani over US.

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply

Bad and unappropriated portrait of the General has been selected which is giving wrong and submissive signals in this particular situation. Our immature media indeed :(

Usman Bashir | 13 years ago | Reply

@Omar and every body in South Korea and Iran has died , only hunger lives there or they have gone back to Year 1 , probably need to send some Bollywood or Hollywood producers to shot some movies of stone ages there .... grow up man .... This is world politics and everyone want a share of the pie and as soon as Pakistan gets their they will do whatever needed until than please stop worrying that pakistan is going to die down (Nauzbillah)

Aizaz Moin | 13 years ago | Reply I think we need to step back a little and take a serious look at the situation. After all it concerns two sovereign states. My personal opinion is that colluding with the Haqqani group is perhaps the malicious work of elements within the state. After all we cannot blame Pakistan for state sponsored terrorism. We are all well aware that conforming to the rule of law or to set rules and regulations is not a Pakistani character trait. If in doubt just step outside and simply look at the traffic on the road. How many actually stop at traffic lights? Within the services as well. how many Pakistanis follow a common goal towards mutual National benefit? Same I fear from what I have read, it seems to me that neither can the Pakistani Army control such people whom I am sure no one knows who they are. Also it appears that the recent reverses suffered by the US Army in Afghanistan as well as their frustration within Pakistan has contributed to the recent events, name calling and allegations. We must be careful not to malign either country because this is not the work of the public of these countries. So let us be sensible and careful otherwise careless words could lead to needless bloodshed. There are good as well as bad people everywhere so let us all act as grown ups.

H.A. Khan | 13 years ago | Reply

So Chief,what is the plan.....

Omer | 13 years ago | Reply

If Pakistan chooses to be partners with Haqqanies instead of the US, then we will be the next North Korea. We will get so many sanctions, that the already miserable lives in Pakistan will be become unlivable.

syed baqar ahsan | 13 years ago | Reply

I am surprised Americans are short sighted they forgotten what all we have done and lost everything by siding with Americans in the last sixty year.TTP has been trained,paid,armed and lunched in Pakistan by USA,UK,INDIA

Ali Tanoli | 13 years ago | Reply

Kangroo fight (U.S=PAK).

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply

Bravo to the Pak General for taking the US head on but whether its the right move only time will tell.

R.A | 13 years ago | Reply

 Over the years Pakistan always denied
 that Osama was in Pakistan but he was
 found right at the heart of Punjab
 Will the denials about Haqqani end up 
 same way.

Aamir | 13 years ago | Reply This seems that Pak Army already agreed to actions against Haqqani Network. The media hue and cry seems to dilute public pressure. This seems Noora Kushti between US and Pakistan. Every time we expected Pakistan to take stand, every time Pakistan turned out to be more softer that before. We are no better than slaves of US.

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