US commander to fly to Pakistan: Officials

Allen is expected to discuss militants operating from Pakistan, NATO supply routes and other issues: US officials.


Afp June 27, 2012

WASHINGTON: The commander of US-led troops in Afghanistan, General John Allen, is due to visit Pakistan on Wednesday, officials said, amid strained relations between Islamabad and Washington.

In meetings with Pakistani army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, Allen is expected to discuss militants operating from havens inside Pakistan, Islamabad's continuing blockade of Nato supply convoys to Afghanistan and other issues, said US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The United States withdrew its negotiating team from Pakistan earlier this month after talks stalled on the reopening of crucial routes into Afghanistan for Nato trucks.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also has warned the United States is running out of patience over Islamabad's failure to crack down on Haqqani fighters staging cross-border attacks out of Pakistan.

Pakistan shut its borders to Nato supply convoys in November after 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a botched US air strike along the border.

Washington has expressed condolences but refused a demand from Pakistan to issue an apology over the incident.

The US military now runs supplies by air and over longer, more costly road and rail routes through Central Asia, the Caucasus and Russia.

Allen's visit coincides with political turmoil in Pakistan, after judges ousted the premier. Last week, MPs elected Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as Pakistan's new prime minister in a bid to end the crisis.

COMMENTS (8)

US Centcom | 11 years ago | Reply

We remain hopeful that we will see both nations in a healthy partnership once again. We’ve certainly wasted enough time, and the seriousness of the situation requires us to bury the hatchet and focus on creating a common ground. At the end of the day, you cannot ignore the importance of both nations working together to combat terrorism. And that’s the reason you see both of our nations making strong efforts to iron out their differences. We must keep the ultimate goal of bringing peace and stability in sight, and that is only possible through joint cooperation. The terrorists have already claimed thousands of innocent lives, and continue to infiltrate the region with their acts of terror. Our failure to resolve our differences is only providing these terrorists with the encouragement to further their evil agenda. We must let these terrorists know that the security of our nations rests above everything else, and we will not let them carry on with their evil mission.

Thoughtful | 11 years ago | Reply Compensation will be paid. That does not negate the fact that tnere was provocation. The world has learnt its lessons.
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