Top U.S general visits Pakistan's Swat Valley
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Dec 17, IRNA -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States, Admiral Michael, G. Mullen Wednesday visited Pakistan’s insurgency-hit Swat Valley and met local military commanders, an army statement said.
Admiral Michael Mullen also held talks with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani, a brief army statement said.
The statement did not give any further details of the meeting.
Admiral Mike Mullen arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday and met Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majid and discussed evolving regional security situation with particular focus on revised U.S strategy for Afghanistan and the region, especially its impact and short and long term implications for Pakistan, the army said.
Aspects of bilateral military cooperation also came under discussion, it added.
Sources said that Admiral Mullen in meeting with Pakistan’s army chief called for action against Afghan Taliban particularly Haqqani network, believed to be active in North Waziristan tribal region.
Haqqani network is believed to be run by Siraj Haqqani, son of former Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqqani.
Sources say that Pakistani military officials are reluctant to take action against Haqqani network.
Reports say that President Asif Ali Zardari has opposed a proposal by President Obama to expand military operation in South Waziristan tribal region. The President called for more military aid as the country has spent 2.5 billion dollars on Swat operation.
The two sides also discussed the reports of U.S drone strikes in Pakistan’s southern Balochistan, where US officials claim Afghan Taliban are active in planning attacks in Afghanistan.
Sources said that Admiral Mullen took the Pakistani military leadership about the new US Afghan policy.
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