I have been Pakistan's best friend: Mullen
(Read more: ISI must disengage from proxies, says Mullen)
"I am losing people, and I am just not going to stand for that," Mullen told WSJ. "I have been Pakistan's best friend. What does it say when I am at that point? What does it say about where we are?"
The report said that while Mullen earlier believed Pakistan was serious in its commitment to battle terrorism, the attack on the US embassy in Kabul on September 13 was a turning point. Mullen blamed Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for collaborating with the Haqqani network, the militant group the US blames for the Kabul attack. However, he believes that while the ISI may not control details of Haqqani’s operations, it provides the group “strategic support”.
"It is very clear they (Pakistan) have supported them," Mullen said in the interview. "I don't think the Haqqanis can be turned on and off like a light switch. But there are steps that could be taken to impact the Haqqanis over time."
Mullen also said that earlier on he had worked on a plan with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to launch an offensive in North Waziristan which Mullen believed would take away a “key haven” from the Haqqani group. He said he was disappointed when the operation did not materialize, and in the events that followed, he refrained from his practice of limiting public criticism of Pakistan.
On September 22, Mullen bluntly said he believes the Haqqani network acts as a “veritable arm of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency”. He went on to say that the Pakistani government, army and intelligence agency jeopardize the Pak-US partnership in the war on terror by “choosing to use violent extremism as an instrument of policy”.
Pakistan has condemned these allegations, maintaining that it is committed to fighting the war on terror as it has been the greatest victim of militancy.
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COMMENTS (98)
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I am losing people, and I am just not going to stand for that,” Mullen
We are loosing people and for a very long time , now WE are not going to withstand it !!! , QUIET SIMPLE....
"according to anonymous officials speaking with the Washington Post."
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/09/28/mullens-pakistan-accusations-were-overstated/' Mullen Purposely Exaggerated Pakistan Ties to Haqqani Admiral Mike Mullen's allegations of Pakistani-Haqqani collusion may have been knowingly inaccurate
@Jack and Shurli went up the sky....: We are treated well when we come to Pakistan u are treated well when you come to India.........but we still are enemies WHY ???
@Maulana Diesel: May be the way they entered GHQ & Mehran Base? @every one else: It shouldn't be our concern what happens to US or NATO but fact remains that we have to come up with a way of getting rid of all anti state elements and terrorist who are roaming around in our cities .. and must bring FATA under control of GoP. It will only happen if we have our foreign policy under civilian control and Armed forces need to be answerable to our representatives, unless that happens Army will keep on bringing conspiracy theories and blaming their incompetence on invisible foreign hands. Time to vote those people who can bring a change and sort out the mess in our country.
It look like every body wrries about US economy. Is Pakistan economy is shining & rising. some of You commented yesterday about china 1.25 mil but forget US Billions of $. If US become mad dog then it take only few sorties to turn any country into stone age. Watch your capability first then comment. All the toys possess by pak army are donated by US. Every one shlould know now that kill switch works. Singh
Mr. Mullen, show some cultural sensitivity. No fraaandship before marriage, please!
@jagjit sidhoo: Indians should come over for a visit and see how they are treated,,, you can then decide!
Long term relationships are fostered based on shared values not short term interests (shared or otherwise). The foundation of the US/Pakistan relationship is not sound but built on expediencies. The US should accept that Pakistan will become a Chinese ally in the long term. For the short term, I see no reason why the US should not talk to Iran for alternative land access to Afghanistan. You may just be surprised by the response. In the long run, I think the US is much better suited for a good relationship with India as two democracies.
Mullen, are you for real?
This is an imperialist war. The US has no business to be in this part of the world. The US thinks that they can brand anyone with any name they like. Those resisiting the Soviet occupation were Mujahideen and those resisiting the US occupation are a bad brand of Talibaan. Yes, Viet Cong were also bad people. The US blames Pakistan's proxies. Whose proxy is Mr. Karzai or Maliki or Abdullah, Mubarak, Pinochet and many many more through the world. Those wo resist change the course of history like George Washington did. Wish he was alive today to see the imperialist state he created.
I think some think tanks in US should seriously study history oif resistance against occupying powers and advise the US adminstration to pull back and focus on its imploding economy.
With friends like these who needs enemies.
@Pakistani: If the war is the only criteria determining President Obama's relection, he won the day he gave orders to take out OBL in Abottabad, Pakistan.
You people think everyone else in the world think like you, no theyt don't/ The irony is US is not completely withdrawing in 2014 or beyond, there iwll be a permanent base. Politically and economically you are toast, you do not have many friends anywhere in this world and you think China is going to save, highly unlikely, China has not done that anywhere they have been. Every where they go, the local population hates them.
Mullen accept your failure, that simple
FOR GOD SAKE STOP BLAMING PAKISTAN ,AMERICAN ARE CONFRONTED WITH RUSSIA,CHINA,AFGHANISTAN,IRAN,UZBIKS,TAJIKS,IRAQIS and volunteers arrived from all countries where CIA is playing and involved in games and it is the best place to revenge their igonies so no fun blaming PAKISTAN and loosing a ally for ever.. I hope story of Afghan's delimma of today will be understood by American.It is just repeat of history of 1979-1988.
He truly has been Pakistan's friend. Pakistanis are blinded by their hatred of anything with red,white and blue stripes to see it.
Pakistan cannot over play its card here. But, it looks like it is doing the exact same thing. Now, all gloves are off. The next few weeks will be really interesting.
Being a best friend behaved like general always ordering and expecting and now telling lie to own to people to arousing their emotion against Pakistan that you were the best friend.Not a single American has ever read the defination of friend and friendship.Always buying and selling loyalities.
@Adnan Khan: The same way our politicians and COAS sleep after lying about their connections with terrorists. Come on guys how far we can lie and hide away from truth. Today every gali mohala has a terrorist or someone associated with terrorist. Hate speak by our so called religious leader is at the peak. How come our immams and mullahs speak of hatred in religious gathering. Isn't he suppose to speak of love and compassion, true message of Allah ? Why do they only talk about violent versions of HIS ALMIGHTY's preaching ? With such slow and increasing radicalization of the nation how can we seriously not see that we are a terrorist country , just not officially branded so. With this stone age rigid attitude towards religion we are becoming our own worst enemy. In recent Poll 90% of Pakistani says they are muslim first and then Pakistani. Speaks very much about our allegiance and what drives us. Sad! Peace to all.
Dear Pakistanis, I wish we have a habit of reading, had it been our habit, we would have read what Henry Kissinger said about US of A. "Enimity of US is dangerous but her friendship is fatal".
Mr Mullen, what you say is too little too late. Who is accountable for your two years of misreading establishment intent and actions ?
with friends like these who needs enemies
no wonder ISI is the worlds Top notch spy agency......US could not even figure out for whom ISI is working for..... thats what spy agency is meant for ..... Way to go ISI.....
Mullin supported Pakistan when it wasn't popular - and few in Pakistan ever gave him credit. . One of the downsides of supporting terrorist is that you are held responsible for their actions - in this case they attacked a USA embassy and your support for the terrorist makes you morally responsible. No one outside of Pakistan has any sympathy for your convoluted theory that sovereignty gives you the right to protect terrorist and you should not be held responsible for their actions.
@ Adnan khan First lie then sorry.
@Jameel:
I remember Jashwant Singh's comment right after 9/11 when America decided to befriend Pakistan. He said to the Americans, "God Help you", to trust the Pakistanis. Pakistanis are the most double faced, trecherous, underhanded, double speaking people on earth. America with all its might and experience with Pakistan over 60 years should have figured them out. But now America might turn its vengence on the one who they considered friend and partner. When you become trecherous towards a partner, usually things turn violent and deadly. Let us see what happens, hope they can work it out.
I have been Pakistan's best friend: Mullen "and will be coz" America cannot live with pakista and without pakistan. Gilani
Just goes to show that anybody who tries to help Pakistan does so at his own risk.
There's a difference between being a country's 'best friend' and being friendly towards its Army chief.
Alienating Mullen, a supporter of Pakistan is an extremely foolish act of the Establishment.
He is right, he has supported alot, two factors everyone is missing:- Indian and Afghan hostile attitude towards Pakistan, "AFhans and Indian have persuaded US whatever in Ahfanistan going wrong its just because of Pakistan"
@AH: Do you mean worst enemies can become best friends ?
Are a few of Mullen's soldiers worth more than thousands of Pakistan's soldiers? Are thousands of innocent Pakistanis worth nothing? Does our decades of turmoil following our key role in defeating the Soviets mean anything? Sad to hear that our contribution and suffering for a greater cause matters little. Is this the way to speak to a supposed ally?
We must get out from 80s mind set! We should not support terrorism from our soil. Make friends not enemies.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/MrHaqqani%28CheifHaqqaniNetwork%29astateguestofthePresident_Reagan.jpg
enough said...better modify you foreign policy US before you start accusing Pakistan of your plans-gone-wrong. You created the Al-Qaeda and Bin Laden and you made the Haqqani network.
I have been Pakistan[i Generals'] best friend: Mullen
I Have been Pakistan's best enemy. Plz ET correct the statement.
Well the "Best Friend" does not,sadly seem to have " I am your BEST FRIEND" expressions,interestingly,they are quiet the opposite...now why am I suprised?!
Looking at all the comments above, the country has gone as raving mad as Germans did during the days of Fuehrer except that it is worst because we see no fuehrer to lead Pakistan in such a cataclysmic time in its history. Get prepared for a disabling strike, Pakistan. You have in your blind hatred closed all doors to sanity - as indeed Germans did in the penultimate stage of WWII! Just like them, you have alienated all your neighours who will be at their borders celebrating what looks increasingly like the imminent end of Pakistan!
Hooay tum dost jis kay dushman uska aasman kyuon ho. Mullen bhai,once Haqqanis were your best friends.The groups fighting for you in Afghanistan in the name of Jahad were your sponsored seedlings which have now become strong trees with no shadows for you.From Jimmy carter to present set up, all are equal for us.Without taking into consideration the so called tactical withdrawals from Korea and Vietnam,you decided again to repeat the mistake of coming into Afghanistan.Had there been an historian some where in america, he would have told them about what happen to English army and later to Russains.Afghanistan soil is like fly killer and when flies(foreign forces) land on it they are in marsh.
America should engage Pakistan, threatening will not do at least at this point in time when we have lost 35,000 innocent Pakistanis.
If America genuinely want to eliminate terrorism, she must help Afghanistan and Pakistan economically so that these two countries reduce their poverty. Terrorism will gradaully declines.
Mr Mullen if the Turi tribesmen can control Haqani group despite the assistance extended to them by invisible power,then why your forces can't control them.Come to Kurram agency we will teach you how to do that.
Maybe our back hurt his knife.
Mullen is just setting up a stage for another US blunder (i.e to attack the territory of Pakistan),, but let me tell u Mr. Mullen that if this time u gonna do any thing foolish u have to face the music then..... A Friendly Advice to our so called true Friend
judging from the comments.. Mullen is as despised as Bush
Has anyone wondered if the Americans are right? Could it be that our interests collide and we can't be allies... we therefore covertly help insurgents! If they prove it to the world, where shall we stand, like after the Osama debacle!
Just a food for thought............
With friends like these, who needs enemies??? America has failed to live up to her own words and her own policies. America has repeatedly let down the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Haqqanis and so many others like them were all a creation of USA/CIA. They created a monster and expected Pakistan to handle it after they conveniently left the scene. Pakistan has lost more lives due to terrorism than any other so-called "coalition" member. Proof of the inability of USA and NATO to handle militancy are the cross-border attacks from Afghanistan such as http://tribune.com.pk/story/241761/attack-in-chitral/ USA needs to DO MORE!!
“To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal” Henry Kissinger
Friends don't stab in the back Mr Mullen. US might has failed miserably and they can't digest their defeat so its business as usual for US to make Pakistan as an scapegoat for their incompetence, failure and defeat in Afghanistan.
woth such friends no body needs an enemy
.
Friends for Foe
Reverse psychology.
Admiral MULLEN is now bein retired and every soldier likes to hav an another job.GOOD OLD TACTICS president OBAMA giv him a job as GEN PETRAUES is happy. democracy bring differences which are nightmares for USA.
With friends like the US, who needs enemies?
I'm sorry Mr. Mullen, but your careless outburst has only served as fuel to anti-american sentiment - and in some way Pakistan has you to thank for sparking what feels remotely like unity for a change. I agree you may not be a diplomat, but your words have only ended up endangering a greater number of Pakistanis and Americans and left the real enemies with a smile on their faces...
There is a saying "Be United or Die divided" i think all Pakistani's should implement this on them now or we will be destroyed soon.
He has been Obamas best friend and now Obama has asked him to do a favour and wrap up the end game and blame someone for it, so that Obama wins elections.
Mullen says ' I am losing people and I am just not going to stand for that '. Let's take a count and see who has lost more people.
@R S JOHAR: Yeah, keep that post handy............................... you will need to!
Mike Mullen, Afghanistan is not Hawaii and your troops are NOT on vacation there. It is a war zone and you are bound to loose 'your people'!! Seriously! your Government is its own enemy and you are just a tool in play! President Ronald Regan was the biggest supporter of the Haqqani Group in the 80's, thanks to that support they are now returning the favor to you in Afghanistan. Threatening Pakistan will get you nowhere and you will loose all control that you have tried desperately to build in the region. Remember, Iran does not like you, Pakistan is beginning to do the same, India is too far off & geologically detached to have any influence in Afghanistan. So Pucker Up and learn from the history of this region. Pakistan may be your ONLY option here to have a peaceful solution in Afghanistan.
Being America's enemy is dangerous, being America's friend is more dangerous.
WHO NEEDS ENEMIES WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE. -It's all part of usa's war OF terrorism. Pakistan didn't have anyyyy suicide bombing until 9.11. How do they justify using drones or planes or jets to fly over Pakistan and kill its people, its children! They were never friends.. and nor would they like to be. USA's only friends are Israel & UK. ..not Canada, not Mexico, not South America, Not France, not anyone. Anyone else it calls a friend.. is like a rat putting a fake tail on & saying I'M A SQUIRREL IM ONE OF YOU... it's all fake & a drama to use & abuse & toss away when done.
what a pity mr. mullen! when america go for the negotiations with Taliban, its democracy and good everywhere, and when Pakistan does it, you "have to re-think" ...
US is dying for pakistan's friendship!
Many a times best friends become the worst enemies.
Well ...who needs enemies..if one has a friend like yours...!!!!
The carrot and stick policy lies in ruins with all carrots eaten. The viable option is stick and a bigger stick.
American's are no one's Best friends.
Ya Right!!! :P
With friends like you, who needs ENEMIES:
Just as you said after OBL stunt, that you want to remain 'Co-operative', when you wanted Pakistan to do something big.
wow . well i would say here pakistan has been losing people on the war which has nothing to do with us .it has been imposed on us. please mr mullen your forces has been ineffective in Afghanistan , it is no fault of ours. you have to see what you are doing wrong. stop blaming others.
with friends like these.........
How about not caring for Pakistan's sensitivities. Why is the US providing space to the Indians to carry out anti Pakistan activities from Afghan soil when US is in occupation of Afghanistan. If Mullen was a friend than why is Pakistan attacked very frequently from Afghan side, killing and wounding scores of our troops. Is there any accountablity for the US about their non friendly acts?
Mr Mullen should know that US does not have permanent friends or foes. Calling pakistan best friend in media and doing a dirty campaign in the background is what US is popular with and has done in this case. If he considered pakistan his best friend than why didnt he involve pakistan in the raid against OBL, why did US support Raymond Davis (a killer of 3 innocent pakistani civillians) .... Mr Mullen, we dont want your friendship as it has costed us 35,000 innocent lives.
LONG LIVE PAKISTAN. AMEEN.
Whatever you believe we don't believe....whatever you said we don't endorse....bear the same losses as we did then we gonna believe you
blame pakistan for ur failures in afghanistan.the truth is pakistan is badly sandwiched in this scenario.may we take right decision and stay united.
The only option we have now is this; Do we want to become another North Korea or Sudan?
Mr Mullen, why don't you just confess that despite being a world superpower, you can't even control the Afghan border and battle a couple thousand men who are armed with nothing but Ak-47s (compared to your much superior equipped army). You have failed desperately in Afghanistan, in fact humiliated. Your jokes are not going to make much difference. I'm being very blunt and honest about this.
It is Mullen who should clutch the can because even when his field commanders have given the feedback he was a strong supporter. Now that he is retiring he wants someone else to do the dirty job he had no heart for. He should be stripped of all his medals.
look at that face.. such a friendly facee
I have been Pakistan’s worst enemy: Mullen