ISLAMABAD: Top US military officer, Admiral Michael Mullen, who met Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on Wednesday, asked for a military offensive in North Waziristan saying it was vital for the elimination of terrorism not only in the Tribal Areas but also across the border in Afghanistan.
“Admiral Mullen, US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), called on the army chief at the General Headquarters. The visiting dignitary remained with him for some time and discussed matters of professional interest,” an ISPR statement said.
A separate statement said the US military official also called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Khalid Shameem Wynne at the Joint Staff Headquarters in Chaklala and discussed the current defence cooperation and regional security environment with special emphasis on developments in Afghanistan.
An official said Admiral Mullen once again pressed for a military operation by Pakistan in North Waziristan, which was considered a hub of global terrorism by the Obama administration.
He said the US top military commander was of the view that the North Waziristan operation was vital for the success in war on terror because the territory was providing safe havens to Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked militants fighting the US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan’s top military leadership told Admiral Mullen that the Pakistan Army was not against offensive targeting the terrorist networks based in North Waziristan and other Tribal Areas in principle but any operation would be launched at suitable time when circumstances were conducive for it,” the official said.
