It is important to recognise Pakistan's anti-militant progress: Mullen tells Senate committee

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Tuesday told US lawmakers that "it is important to recognise" the anti-militant success Pakistan has recently achieved, and advocated long-term co-operative relationship with the "key South Asian ally" in defeating al Qaeda along the Afghan border.
In reference to Pakistan's actions in the north-western territories, Mullen said that in the last year the Pakistan's military and the Frontier Corps achieved a lot, and noted that their actions had a big impact. "There has been a lot that has been changed in the last year in Pakistan with what Pakistan's military and the Frontier Corps have achieved.
"And, I think, it's important to recognise that, because a year or two ago, there were many people who were very sceptical that they would do anything. And, they've had a big impact. It hasn't been perfect," Mullen stated, appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a confirmation hearing of his second term as chairman. Mullen also cited Pakistan Army's progress in counter-insurgency training. He said that the US would continue to support Pakistan at the pace Islamabad desired.
"We are there to support them where they are asking our support. That said, it's only going to go as fast as they want it to go. And that's -- I've been there I think 13 times. It's very clear to me that they very much appreciate the support; but it's going to be at their pace -- even though we would like -- many of us would like to see it happen more quickly."
He drew the lawmakers' attention to the vitality of US assistance for Pakistan in the long-term perspective under a pending bipartisan bill, sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar. "We think that is an important long-term relationship. They still ask the question: are you staying or going this time? Not unlike the question that gets asked in Afghanistan. Kerry-Lugar bill is very important, as far as I am concerned, because it is not about $1.5 billion a year as much as it is a five-year commitment to Pakistan.
"So our strategy is, I think, much more comprehensive with Pakistan than it used to be. That said, there are limits. It's a sovereign country, and they are very much in charge of their own country." He said that the US and its allies "have had success in diminishing" al Qaeda leadership.
"It's not as strong as it was; but it is still very lethal; still very focused on us as a country, planning to still execute attacks against us and other Western interests. So, there has been progress but we still (have) got a long way to go." He expressed concern over the Afghan militant groups operating along Afghan-Pakistan border and claimed that the border "is likely to remain dangerous".