Top Pentagon Official in Surprise Visit to Pakistan

[struggle4progress]

Source: NY Times

By SALMAN MASOOD and GRAHAM BOWLEY
Published: September 16, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, America’s top military official, made a hastily arranged visit to Pakistan on Tuesday for talks about a recent incursion by American commandos based in neighboring Afghanistan.

The visit by the chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, came as an uproar continued to grow in Pakistan about the incursion on Sept. 3, which severely strained relations between the United States and Pakistan, its top Muslim ally in the war against terrorism. The visit also coincided with conflicting accounts about a possible second American raid on Monday, as well as a warning by the Pakistan military that it would shoot at any foreign forces who crossed the border.

A Pakistani military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, said the army reserved the right to use force to defend the country and its people, but he said there was “no change in policy.”

Asked what the Pakistan military would do if there was a future incursion by American troops, he said: “There is a big if involved. We will see to it when such a situation arises.” ...

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/world/asia/17pstan.html?hp

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Top Pentagon official in Pakistan for talks
Incursions have set off outrage and a reported threat to "open fire" on U.S. troops there.
By Pamela Constable
Washington Post

KABUL, Afghanistan - ... The unannounced visit by Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came just hours after Pakistan's army spokesman was quoted as saying that orders had been given to "open fire" if U.S. forces tried another cross-border raid similar to a Sept. 3 commando operation in which local officials said at least 20 people were killed.

In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed Mullen's visit. Its purpose, the spokesman said, was to continue dialogue between U.S. and Pakistani officials and to "look for ways to work better and more closely together to eliminate the safe haven for extremists in the border region" between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

But reported comments by the Pakistani army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, showed that a series of U.S. cross-border raids this month have deeply embarrassed and angered Pakistan's military establishment, as well as aroused widespread public outcry.

"The orders are clear," Abbas told the Associated Press. "In case it happens again in this form, that there is very significant detection, where it is very definite, no ambiguity across the board, on the ground or in the air: Open fire." ...

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20080917_Top_Pentagon_official_in_Pakistan_for_talks.html



Gilani Says Pakistan Will Protect Its Soil, U.S. Raids Must End
By Khaleeq Ahmed and Paul Tighe

Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called for U.S. and NATO-led forces to cease anti- terrorist raids that violate Pakistani territory, saying his country will protect its soil.

``The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country will be safeguarded at all costs,'' the official Associated Press of Pakistan cited Gilani as telling U.K. Justice Secretary Jack Straw in the capital, Islamabad, yesterday.

Greater understanding is needed between the countries engaged in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan, Gilani said. President Asif Ali Zardari said he raised the issue of U.S. missile strikes inside Pakistan when he met with U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday in London ... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aBwrGEAKypNc&refer=home

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Well gee, call me surprised

[Hugabear]

2. I think it's time for India to start rattling Pakistan's cage

They can't concentrate too much on us if they're tied up with India. How much do you want to bet that we're covertly trying to stoke tensions between India and Pakistan?