Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, conveying concerns over allegations leveled by the USZ against Pakistan with regard to the Haqqani network, made it clear that such allegations could hamper the relations between the two countries and adversely affect the war against terrorism. Top American commander James Mattis arrived in Pakistan late Friday night for talks with key military leaders, including army Chief General Kayani, amidst growing tensions between the two countries over the USZ linking ISI to the Haqqani network. Gen. Mattis, USZ army Central Command chief responsible for overseeing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, is on his second visit to Pakistan in less than three months. His last visit to the country was in July.
Sources told Online news agency that the meeting between the two military leaders lasted for over an hour in which matters related to recent USZ allegations against the ISI regarding Haqqani network, bilateral relations, attacks from Afghanistan side and the deteriorating Pak-USZ relations were discussed in length. Gen. Mattis arrived in Pakistan at a time when the country's relationship with the USZ is at a new low after top American defence officials accused the ISI of supporting the Haqqani network of the Taliban, blamed for two recent attacks on the USZ Embassy and a military base in Afghanistan. Sources said that COAS made it clear on the USZ Centcom chief the series of allegations against the Pakistani security agencies for their ties with Haqqani network without any proof should come to an end as this could affect the ties between the two countries. Gen Kayani also raised the issue of recent attacks from the Afghanistan side on Pakistani check posts and demanded an end to such attacks, sources said.
The USZ says the Haqqani network operates from Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region. Pakistan denies ties with the Haqqani network, while the head of the group, Sirajuddin Haqqani, has claimed it is more secure in Afghanistan than Pakistan. USZ defence secretary Leon Panetta has threatened unilateral action against the Haqqani network and other Pakistan-based "militant groups", a statement condemned by Islamabad as contrary to the spirit of bilateral anti-terror cooperation. Top Pakistani Military officials including Gen. Kayani, have rejected allegations by USZ officials and asked the USZ to avoid hurting the sentiments of Pakistanis.
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