Top military leadership, in a special Corps Commanders' conference on Sunday rejected the allegations levelled against Pakistan's intelligence agency by military and civilian officials of the US. It was the second time in the current month to discuss how to react to the accusation made by US Admiral Mike Mullen and the White House.
The six-hour long meeting was chaired by Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. No formal declaration of the meeting was issued till filing the story.
It is learnt that the special Corps Commanders meeting was convened after General James N Mattis, Commander of US Centcom met with General Kayani on Saturday. Military top brass decided that every decision is to be taken in Pakistan's interest and that attacks from Afghanistan on the Pak-Afghan border would not be tolerated in the future. All Corps Commanders and Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) attended the meeting.
The Pakistan Army has denied accusations again when ISPR spokesman Major General Athar Abbas did acknowledge that the ISI had contacts with the Haqqanis. He stressed that any intelligence agency prefers keeping contacts with opposition groups and terrorist organisations for some sort of positive outcome. This does not mean that the ISI supports, or endorses, the organisation, he said.
In an earlier statement, Gen had Kayani termed the comments by Adm Mullen as "unfortunate", and "not based on facts". The moot decided that no military operation will be launched in North Waziristan, the demand repeatedly raised by Washington to purge Haqqani Network in volatile tribal areas, it was learnt reliably.
The moot reiterated that Pakistan armed forces are committed to achieving enduring peace in the region and made it clear that cross border infiltration from Afghanistan was intolerable.
The participants of the conference also stated that peace could not be prevailed without mutual co-operation and trust. They vowed that all decision would be taken while keeping in view best national interests.
Meanwhile, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Khalid Shameem Wynne conveyed on Sunday "concerns" of Pakistan military pertaining to the recent US accusation to visiting Commander of US Central Command General James N Mattis.
According to ISPR statement, both the leaders discussed various matters of mutual interests and emerging geo-strategic situation in the region during the meeting held at the GHQ.
General Khalid Shameem Wynne expressed his concern about the negative statements emanating from US and stressed upon addressing the irritants in the relationship, resulting in an "extremely complex situation". He reiterated that Pakistan armed forces were committed to achieving enduring peace in the region which will only be possible through mutual trust and co-operation.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in a statement stated that the Generals had "candid" discussions about the current challenges in the US-Pakistan relationship. It said Gen James Mattis visited Islamabad to meet with Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and CJCSC Gen Khalid Wynne.
"Gen Mattis meets and hold talks routinely with both generals to discuss US-Pakistan military activities, the coalition campaign in Afghanistan and broader regional issues," the statement said.
However, Gen Mattis also emphasised the vital role the Pakistan military plays 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.
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