ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: The visiting United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen on Wednesday reiterated US commitment to respect Pakistan's sovereignty, while Pakistan made it clear that unilateral airstrikes in its territory are not acceptable.
Sources said the top US commander was informed that Islamabad would not compromise on national sovereignty and only Pakistan had the right to operate against the militants and terrorists on its side of the Pak-Afghan border. In an official statement by the US embassy, spokesman Lou Fintor said, "Admiral Mullen reiterated US commitment to respect Pakistan's sovereignty and to develop further US-Pakistani co-operation and co-ordination on these critical issues that challenge the security and well-being of the people of both countries." The statement said the talks were "extremely frank, positive and constructive". Mullen "appreciated the positive role that Pakistan is playing in the war on terror and pledged…support to Pakistan," it said.
Co-operation: In a meeting at the Prime Minister's (PM) House, PM Yousuf Raza Gilani told Mullen Pakistan would continue to co-operate with the US in the ongoing war on terror. He said Washington should share intelligence with Islamabad, as the Pakistan Army was fully capable of dealing with terrorism. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and US Ambassador Anne W Patterson also attended the meeting.
Earlier, in a meeting at the General Headquarters, Gen Kayani protested over unilateral strikes by US forces and said no agreement on such strikes existed between the two countries, sources said.
State department: According to APP, the State Department said that the US wanted to work with Pakistan and Afghanistan to ensure regional security.
"We do have a close working relationship, not only through military-to-military channels but political-to-political channels with the leadership of President Zardari and his government, as well as with the military," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. He said the US would co-operate with Islamabad in dealing with issues on the Pakistani side of the border.