Top American military commander in Afghanistan General John Allen on Wednesday asked for a sweeping military operation by Pakistan in North Waziristan as he blamed the Taliban-linked militant group, Haqqani network, for the recent deadly terrorist acts in Afghanistan.
The Commander of International Security Assistance Force (ASF) in Afghanistan, who reached Islamabad amid tensions in ties between Islamabad and Washington, called on Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and discussed with him various aspects of the ongoing war on terror and Pakistan’s role in this regard at length. General Allen also asked for the reopening of NATO supplies, saying they were vital for the success of counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan, a sources privy to the meeting between the top military commanders said.
Pakistan blocked the NATO supplies after the American aircraft carried out strikes on its border posts in Mohmand Agency in November, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers. Ever since, Pakistani authorities have been asking for a public US apology over the airstrikes, but the American administration has refused to oblige Islamabad so far. “The American military commander asked for the full-fledged military operation in North Waziristan by the Pakistan Army, as he talked about the alleged involvement of the Haqqani network in recent acts of terrorism in Afghanistan against NATO forces and Afghan army soldiers,” a source said, seeking anonymity. He said General Kayani told the US military official that Pakistan would take a decision on its own whether to go for an operation in the North Waziristan or not. General Kayani, according to the sources, raised the vital issue of recent cross border attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from Afghan soil in Pakistani border regions close to Dir, asking for immediate and comprehensive measures by US/NATO forces and Afghan army to prevent these attacks, which have so far killed several Pakistani soldiers. “General Kayani told the American military commander that it is the responsibility of Afghan and US armies to stop these cross border militants’ attacks on the forces of an allied nation,” said a source. The army chief also said Pakistan had the right to protect its sovereignty and the lives of its soldiers and for that it could use all possible options, the source added. He said General Allen assured Kayani that he would take up the matter with the leadership of the Afghan army.
Kiayani has a thick skin. No other army chief in the world would take this kind of abuse from a foreign general. Pakistan is the only country in the world where foreigners can come in, demand to see the army chief, abuse him, maybe slap him around a time or two and still get a farewell by the highest dignitaries. If kiayani had any character, he would have resigned a long time ago. He will go down in history as the worst army chief Pakistan has ever had. I have never seen a more incompetent general in my life and I have seen plenty of generals.
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