By IRNA,
Islamabad : American army chief Wednesday reiterated the U.S. commitment to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty amid growing tension over recent incursion and missiles strikes in Pakistani tribal regions, the U.S embassy said.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, who arrived Tuesday night on 2-day visit, held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Army Chief, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, the embassy said in a statement.
“The conversations were extremely frank, positive, and constructive,” it said.
The statement said that Admiral Mullen resolved ‘to develop further U.S.-Pakistani cooperation and coordination on these critical issues that challenge the security and well-being of the people of both countries’.
“The Pakistani leaders reviewed the progress of Pakistan’s efforts to combat militancy, violence, and terrorism,” the embassy statement said.
Admiral Mullen appreciated the positive role that Pakistan is playing in the War on Terror and pledged continued U.S. support to Pakistan, it said.
Pakistani officials said earlier that the Prime Minister and Admiral Mullen discussed ‘war on terror, bilateral cooperation and security situation along Pak-Afghan border’.
National Security Advisor Mehmood Ali Durrani briefed the Prime Minister on security situation. The army chief was also present in the meeting, they said.
Adm. Mike Mullen has paid his fifth visit to Pakistan since he became the Joint Chiefs chairman in October last year.
“The admiral has been focused on working more closely with Pakistan’s military to improve coordination and effectiveness in operations against extremist safe havens in the border areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the Pentagon said on its website.
The visit comes amid tensions between the U.S and Pakistan’s new government, which has angrily reacted to recent missiles strikes by American drones, killing scores of people including women and children.
Admiral Mullen warned earlier this month that the U.S forces will launch unilateral actions in the tribal regions against the al-Qaeda linked militants.
Last month Admiral Mullen met General Kayani secretly on board a US aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean and discussed efforts to slow the infiltration of militants from Pakistan.