Mullen seeks Pak commitment on Indian demands: report

Islamabad, Dec 23 (PTI) Undertaking a visit as tension
escalates between India and Pakistan, the top US military
official has asked Islamabad to do more to address India's
concerns and reportedly sought commitments from Pakistani
leadership on New Delhi's demands.

On a second visit to Pakistan since the Mumbai terror
attacks, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs
of Staff, is believed to have stressed on the need for
Islamabad to do more to address India's concerns, including
action against elements linked to the Nov 26 strikes during
his meetings with the country's top military leadership
Monday.

Diplomatic sources said the tensions between India and
Pakistan and ensuring Islamabad's cooperation to nab the
terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks was the focus of
Mullen's two day visit.

Mullen met army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Lt Gen
Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the head of the powerful Inter-Services
Intelligence agency Monday.

US embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said Mullen is visiting
for "scheduled meetings with senior Pakistani officials on
regional issues". Mullen is expected to meet President Asif
Ali Zardari Tuesday.

However, the influential Dawn newspaper reported Mullen
was "on a mission to urge Pakistan to arrest elements accused
by India of being involved in last month's Mumbai attacks for
cooling down the mounting tension between the two countries".

The newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying that
Mullen "might have sought commitments from the Pakistani
leadership on the Indian demands which are also a
pre-condition for resuming the peace process" between the two
countries.

The role of the ISI was also discussed by Mullen, who is
believed to have reiterated the US's demand for bringing the
spy agency under civilian control.

During their meetings with Mullen, Pakistani officials
said they had taken sufficient action even without evidence
being provided by India about the involvement of Pakistani
elements in the attacks.

Mullen was also apprised by officials of Pakistan's
possible reaction in the event of an attack by India, the Dawn
reported.

Mullen also reviewed peace deals with Taliban and
discussed payment of USD 900 million in arrears for logistical
support provided to the US by Pakistan, the report said.

India has blamed Pakistan-based elements, including the
banned Lashker-e-Taiba, for planning and carrying out the
Mumbai attacks that killed over 180 people. It has asked
Pakistan to crack down on these elements.

Pakistan, which carried out a limited crackdown on LeT
and its front organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawah, has been insisting
that India has not shared any evidence on the attacks.

The US, on the other hand, is concerned that a further
escalation in regional tension could result in Pakistan
diverting troops from its border with Afghanistan to the
Indian frontier.

This would adversely impact the US-led campaign in
Afghanistan and make it easier for Taliban elements based in
Pakistan's tribal belt to conduct cross-border raids. PTI RHL
RKM
NNNN