US Military Advisors to head for Pakistan soon

New York, Sept 20 (PTI) U.S. military advisors in dozens
may soon be heading for Pakistan to train its army in counter
insurgency and the specialised warfare course could begin in
matter of weeks, according to a top U.S. military commander.

"The U.S. and Pakistan have cleared remaining obstacles,
so the long delayed team may arrive in Islamabad within
weeks", Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the U.S. Joint
Chiefs of Staff was quoted by Los Angeles Times on his return
from a key visit to Pakistan.

Washington for months has urged the Pakistani to accept
a training team. Pakistan resisted, asking for additional
weaponry and equipment some U.S. officials believe is best
suited for its standoff with regional rival India, the Paper
said.

But now, Mullen told the paper the primary stumbling
block had been the fact that Pakistan could not build the
proposed training site, near the western town of Peshawar,
quickly enough.

He said the two sides had now agreed to use an
alternative site, north of Pakistani capital Islamabad.

"We're still going through administrative delays, but I
do see it happening", Mullen said adding "I think It's in the
next few weeks".

Mullen's remarks were the first since his unannounced
trip to Pakistan, his fifth since becoming Chairman last year.

He said he made the latest visit because of accusations
that U.S. had violated Pakistan's Sovereignty in a special
operations raid this month near the Afghan Border.

The raid provoked strong reaction from Islamabad with
both Military and Political leaders warning that its forces
might open fire on foreign troops that cross into Pakistani
territory.

Mullen told the paper he believed Pakistani officials
were insisting on their right to "defend their country, which
I understand and which anybody understands".

He said" Clearly we have no desire to get into any kind
of engagement with Pakistan Military".

Earlier, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates in London
emphasised the importance of strategy talks with Pakistan.

Asked to identify the Central front in the U.S.
administration's war on terrorism, Gates said al-Qaeda's
havens in western Pakistan remained a "real threat".