US strikes in Pakistan harm anti-terror war: army chief
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, April 21, IRNA -- Pakistan Army Chief, General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, has told the visiting chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, that the US drone strikes spark public anger against the anti-terror efforts.
Mullen, who arrived in Pakistan on two-day visit on Wednesday, met the Pakistan army chief and lauded efforts of Pakistani people and the security forces and reassured that security ties will not be allowed to unravel between the two armed forces, an army statement said.
“The COAS (Chief of the Army Staff) reinforced government’s stance on drone strikes and emphasized that these not only undermine our national effort against terrorism but turn public support against our efforts, which remains the key to success,” it said.
Despite opposition to the US drone strikes by General Kayani, the US army chief in interviews with Pakistani media on Wednesday, did not give any indication to halt the drone strikes. He reiterated the stand of the CIA spokesman who had stated this month that the program of drone strikes will continue.
General Kayani strongly rejected negative propaganda of Pakistan not doing enough and Pakistan Army’s lack of clarity on the way forward, the army statement said. He highlighted that Pakistan Army’s ongoing operations are a testimony of the country’s national resolve to defeat terrorism.
The Pakistan and US army chiefs acknowledged that evolving Pak-US strategic relation was important for the achievement of mutual long term objectives of comprehensive security of both countries, the statement said.
Earlier, Admiral Mullen also met Pakistan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shameem Wynne and discussed matters related to mutual interest and bilateral ties, an army statement said.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30349584
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