US rules out ending drone strikes in Pakistan
April 21st, 2011 - 11:05 am ICT by ANI
Washington, April 21(ANI): The United States will not stop its drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, President Barack Obama’s top military officer has said, according to a report.
Admiral Mike Mullen, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, was in Islamabad to ease diplomatic tensions with Pakistan, Bloomberg reports.
Admiral Mullen said the Raymond Davis case, combined with the US drone campaign that has killed civilians, “was a huge setback.”
“I don’t think there is an immediate solution to this. We have to work a way through that,” he said in a televised interview yesterday, during which he accused Pakistan’s Inter- Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) of maintaining ties to militants in Afghanistan.
Also, in an interview with Dawn News, Admiral Mullen indicated that there would be probably no reduction in the Central Intelligence Agency’s footprint in Pakistan or in the drone attacks, which are mostly aimed at North Waziristan- the base of the Haqqanis- until the ISI dissociates itself from the terror network.
“I have a sacred obligation to do all I can to make sure that” the network is no longer able to support insurgents in Afghanistan, the military officer said.
Calls by Pakistani politicians to restrict drone attacks intensified after the March 17 drone attack on a peace congregation in North Waziristan Agency that reportedly left over 39 innocent people dead.
Pakistan has resisted US pressure to attack the Taliban’s biggest remaining stronghold, North Waziristan, which is the main base for guerrillas of Afghan commander Jalaluddin Haqqani, who have attacked American forces operating in at least six Afghan provinces, including Kabul. (ANI)
- ISI's links with Haqqani network at core of US-Pak differences: Mullen - Apr 21, 2011
- Tattered US, Pak ties move into 'stalemate' over drone attacks, counter-terrorism issues - Apr 23, 2011
- Mullen sticks to his guns on ISI links with terror group - Sep 29, 2011
- Haqqanis support could help Pakistan's interests: Musharraf - Sep 29, 2011
- US accuses Pakistan of supporting Haqqani network - Sep 23, 2011
- Haqqani network was once CIA's blue-eyed boy: Khar - Sep 26, 2011
- Pakistan spy chief goes to Saudi Arabia - Sep 26, 2011
- ISI has ties with Haqqani network: US commander - Apr 21, 2011
- Unilateral incursion into Pakistan will be disastrous: daily - Oct 20, 2011
- US general meets Kayani, discusses Haqqani network - Sep 24, 2011
- Safe havens in Pakistan biggest challenge in Afghan war: Mullen - Oct 03, 2011
- Pakistani army discuss security at emergency meet - Sep 25, 2011
- ISI's tacit support to Haqqanis hampering CIA's anti-terrorism efforts in Pak: Report - Feb 18, 2011
- Gilani discusses Pakistan-US ties with politicians - Sep 25, 2011
- US drone attack counter-productive: Pakistani PM - Dec 26, 2010
Tags: admiral mike mullen, admiral mullen, afghan commander, barack obama, bloomberg reports, central intelligence agency, chiefs of staff, dawn news, drone, haqqani, intelligence directorate, inter services, joint chiefs of staff, military officer, north waziristan agency, peace congregation, raymond davis, sacred obligation, terror network, tribal areas