Pakistan, US military chiefs discuss cross-border cooperation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

ISLAMABAD, August 17, IRNA -- Pakistani and American military leaders have concluded talks on 'a wide range of common security issues, to include militant network activities and measures to improve cross-border cooperation,' the US Embassy said Friday.

Commander of US Central Command, General James Mattis, held a series of meetings with senior Pakistani leaders including Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Secretary of Defense Lieutenant General (Retd.) Asif Yasin Malik and other senior military officials, an embassy statement said.

They agreed to continue to meet periodically to further common objectives on cross-border cooperation and regional security, it said.

General Mattis acknowledged the sacrifices made by the Pakistani military in their fight against violent extremists and offered his condolences for nearly 5,000 Pakistani military personnel who have fallen in support of that cause, it said.

The US general was grateful for the time afforded to him by his Pakistani counterparts and reaffirmed the importance of the US-Pakistani security relationship -- not only to ongoing operations in Afghanistan, but also to regional stability.

Pakistan army has not yet issued any statement on the visit.

The CENTCOM chief's visit comes amid reports that Pakistan plans a military operation against Taliban in North Waziristan tribal region.

The US has been pushing Pakistani for years to act against the militants in North Waziristan and also target the Haqqani Network, which American claim operates from the area.

On Monday, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said that General Kayani has told top American military leaders that Pakistan has decided to launch a military operation against the Pakistan's Taliban in North Waziristan.

Pakistan has not commented on Panetta's statement and says that the country's leadership will decide when to launch offensive in the region and that there will be no joint operation with the US on its territory.

Islamabad has also asked the US to seal off border with Afghanistan at a time when it begins operation against the militants in the region.

The US says that militants have established bases in the region and launch cross-border attacks on American and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

Opposition parties in Pakistan have come up with strong disagreement to the planned operation in North Waziristan and say it will destabilize the country.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80281869