ISLAMABAD: Expressing deep concern over senior US officials’ statements, top brass of Pakistan Army Sunday rejected allegations of Islamabad’s links with Haqqani Network and resolved to give befitting response to any effort to breach country sovereignty.A special corps commanders meeting chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani thoroughly reviewed the security situation on Pak-Afghan border and state of preparedness of the force. The meeting also expressed concern over cross-border incursions into Pakistan by Afghan militants. The extraordinary meeting of the corps commanders and principal staff officers came following the sharp US allegations that Pakistan Army’s spy agency ISI supported the Haqqani militant group to carryout recent attacks on its embassy and NATO headquarter in Kabul.
“The prevailing security situation was discussed,” military officials said without giving details.However some military sources said that meeting rejected all the allegations and expressed its concern over the negative statements emanating from the US. The meeting reiterated that Pakistan Armed Forces were committed to achieving enduring peace in the region and expressed total resolve to give befitting response in case there was any effort to violate national sovereignty.Meanwhile, Commander of the US Central Command General James Mattis also called on General Kayani and exchanged views on strengthening military to military relations.
In another development, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shamim Wynne while expressing concern over US allegations emphasised that peace in the region would only be possible through mutual trust and cooperation.He conveyed his reaction to General James Mattis who called on him Sunday. “Both leaders discussed various matters of mutual interests and emerging geo-strategic situation in the region,” a military statement said.General Wynne expressed his concern about the negative statements emanating from the US,” it said, adding, “He stressed upon addressing the irritants in the relationship which are a result of an extremely complex situation.” “Pakistan Armed Forces are committed to achieving enduring peace in the region which will only be possible through mutual trust and cooperation,” the statement said.
The meeting strongly criticised top US military officer Admiral Mike Mullen’s statement that Pakistan was exporting terror to neighbouring Afghanistan.The US embassy in a statement said Mattis visited Islamabad to meet with Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani and General Shamim Wynne. “The generals had candid discussions over the current challenges in the US-Pakistan relationship”, the statement said.It said that General Mattis also emphasised the vital role the Pakistan military played in international security efforts to protect the Pakistani and Afghan people and the need for persistent engagement among the militaries of the US, Pakistan and other states in the region. – Nation
