Pakistan Army Chief Slams Mullen Claims as Relations Sour
Insists US Engaged in 'Negative Propaganda' Over Allegations of Militant Ties
On Wednesday, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency of having active ties with the terrorist Haqqani network. One day later, his Pakistani counterpart Gen. Parvez Kayani responded.
Kayani slammed Mullen’s allegations, insisting he was engaging in “negative propaganda.” Before taking over as the Pakistani chief of staff, Gen. Kayani was the head of the ISI, and held the position from 2004-2007.
The dueling statements underscore the increasingly tense relations between the US and Pakistan. It is particularly ironic that they are the result of Mullen’s visit, as it was supposed to improve those ties.
The relationship began to significantly worsen after the Raymond Davis scandal, which led to the revelation that the US had hundreds of CIA agents operating in Pakistan above and beyond the enormous force that was there with permission and operating in concert with the ISI. This was followed by a US drone strike which killed a number of key government allies. Pakistan has since demanded an end to all US drone strikes in the country.
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thedissenter
April 21st, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Relations may continue to sour but it doesn't stop the droning of innocent civilians.
Dr.Khan
April 21st, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Pakistan will do all that it deems necessary for its security and stability.This is what Spy Agencies do,they never keep relation with normal groups and networks for their covert missions,CIA does it,So does ISI.PERIOD.
Unfortunately it is very late that Pakistan is realizing it.I wish we had someone with more VALOR,to respond to such criminal attitude that USA has towards Pakistan.
Jaime
April 22nd, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Mullen arrived in Pakistan as a viceroy would.
Andron
April 22nd, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Maybe at last the Pakistani's are begining to see that everything being done by the US is designed SOLELY for the benefit of the US – and to HELL with everybody else.