Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States on Saturday said Lashkar-e-Tayyaba has become very dangerous organisation and a significant threat not only in the region but it has also the potential for global threat.
Talking to newsmen here at American embassy, with a select group of journalists, Mullen said there is need to take strict action to stop the activities of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT). He said, "It (LeT) is growing and has become a concern, most significant factor is that its growing threat and becoming more lethal."
He said the LeT was expanding in Afghanistan and other countries beyond the region. Replying to a question about any role by US in the three-year extension to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Admiral Mullen denied any role in it. He said, "Pakistan is a sovereign country and it is internal issue of Pakistan. Answering another question about the presence of US army in Pakistan, Mullen said, "there are no secret American troops in Pakistan."
He said the American troops are here in Pakistan on request and only for training purposes. Replying to a question, Mullen supported the statement of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the presence of Osama bin Laden and other top al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan. He, however, said they are hiding in a very secure place and it is very difficult to trace them adding, "I believe Osama is here in Pakistan." He said the tribal belt on Pakistan's western border is the global headquarter for the al Qaeda terror network.
Mullen praised Pakistan for moving against militants but urged that there is still need to take action against Haqqani network, that has been disturbing peace inside Afghanistan. He called the Haqqani group as "the most lethal network" faced by the US-led international force in Afghanistan and said he had repeatedly urged Pakistan to tackle the threat.
He said Pakistani forces are aware of the threat of Haqqani group. Mullen who is on his 19th visit to Pakistan said, "Haqqani network is strongly engaged and involved in insurgencies in Afghanistan and there is need to take much stronger position against it." Appreciating the role of Pakistan Army in the war against terror and sacrifices rendered by Pakistan Army, he said, it is a regional and global war and the US and the world was aware of the loss of lives of Pakistan Army and civilians in this war.
He said US and Pakistan are very strong allies in the war against terror and assured that US has strong desire to extend help and co-operation to Pakistan in this war. "Pakistan government made critical decisions to achieve success in the war against terrorism," he said.
Regarding the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, he said, it would not be end of the mission rather it will be the start of the process adding that US military would stay there till complete revival of peace. Answering a question about reconciliation process in Afghanistan, he said, American leadership has full support to the process led by Afghan President Hamid Karzai adding that Pakistan and US have significant stake in this reconciliation process.
Dispelling the concept of mistrust between Pakistan and US intelligence agencies, Mullen said, there has been improvement in the trust between them, which appeared in early 1990s. He however said, it need time to reach the same level of trust between Pakistan and US intelligence agencies.
Mullen however appreciated the role of Pakistan Army and ISI for arresting and capturing terrorists, which have not been arrested or killed by any other organisation. However he did not elaborate the points of difference between US Army and ISI.
Replying to a question, Admiral Mullen said, "Our source of information regarding the movement of terrorist elements across the Pak-Afghan border does not come from Indians." He said, the US has its own system of tracking the movement of the terrorist across the Pak-Afghan border and focus on the safe havens of terrorists.
Replying to a question about the success of foreign troops in Afghanistan, he said, it is very difficult to judge the success in percentage. He said it is a very difficult task and this year is the most difficult year due to loss of lives in the war against terror in Afghanistan.
He however said due to special operations held in Kandahar and Helmand, there has been some success in this war and lot more done as compared to last year. Answering a question about loss of lives in war against terror in Afghanistan, Mullen said, efforts are being made to keep the civilian causalities to minimum. He however said loss of life, either by civilian or by any soldier from any country is very painful and tragic.
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