Pakistan is Centre of Terrorism Activites: Mullen

Breaking News: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen has said that Pakistan is centre of terrorism activities and proper action is vital to end terrorists places from the country.

The top US military officer says coalition forces are continuing to make significant progress against the Taliban in Afghanistan, but is warning there is likely to be more violence this year in many parts of the country than in 2010.

Mullen says local towns are beginning to reject Taliban fighters and the insurgents are losing ground. He is losing and I have every confidence that he will continue to lose so long as coalition and Afghan forces increase their presence and their pressure on his operations and improve their own capacity, he said.

The admiral says he was not surprised that China tested the countrys first radar-evading stealth bomber this week, but says he cannot understand why Beijing continues to invest in expensive weapons that could be targeted against America.

Gen. Kayani assures tackling Waziristan terrorists: Mullen

Staff Report

WASHINGTON: U.S. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has said that the Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani has assured him of taking action against terrorists in Northern Waziristan.

Mullen made a claim during a recent interview that Northern Waziristan is an epicenter of terrorists and Al Qaeda is still active in that area.

He added that Pakistan has made sacrifices in the war against terror and suffered losses of civilian lives in this regard.

Admiral Mike Mullen further added that Pakistan’s Army Chief and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff have given assurances of tackling terrorists in Northern Waziristan. SAMAA

Mullen regrets deaths of Pakistani soldiers

The top US military official conveyed his most sincere condolences to Pakistan’s army chief Thursday, over a fatal cross-border NATO strike that strained relations between the countries.
We we take this incident very seriously, Admiral Mike Mullen said in a letter to Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, the US embassy said.
I wanted to send my most sincere condolences for the regrettable loss of your soldiers killed and wounded on 30 September near your border with Afghanistan.
Mullen said senior commanders would review an investigation into the incident thoroughly in the hope of avoiding recurrence of a tragedy like this.
The death of our soldiers in combat is always tragic, but under these circumstances, it is even more difficult to accept, he said.
The letter was made public a day after US ambassador Anne W. Patterson issued an apology for the incident last Thursday in which a cross-border NATO chopper strike killed at least two Pakistani soldiers mistaken for militants.
Pakistan, a key US ally in the battle against militants in the region, shut the main land route at Torkham following the intrusion into its territory.

Petraeus phones Kayani, regrets NATO strikes

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: Top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan David Petraeus called Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani today, and regretted the NATO strike that killed three Pakistani troops.

Three soldiers were killed in an early morning raid on Thursday when a NATO chopper fired at a Pakistani military post 200 metres inside the border in Kurram Agency.

According to details, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) commander assured the COAS that such an incident would not take place again. He conveyed his sincere feelings over the incident.

He said that it was a sad thing that the incident took place under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) command, the channel reported

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, also spoke with Gen. Kayani earlier.

Iran guards warn US against attack over nuclear work

TEHRAN: Iran will make the strategic Gulf region unsafe for all if it comes under attack by the United States over it nuclear programme, the deputy head of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday.

“If the Americans make the slightest mistake, the security of the region will be endangered. Security in the Persian Gulf should be for all or none,” Yadollah Javani told the official news agency.

“The Persian Gulf is a strategic region and if it is endangered they (Americans) will suffer losses and our response will be firm.

“We will defend ourselves if America or Israel resort to any hostile measures against our vital values,” he added.

The international community led by the United States has stepped up pressure on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme amid concerns that the Islamic republic is engaged in a covert nuclear weapons programme, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out a military strike to stop Iran”s alleged atomic ambitions.

Javani”s declaration preceded comments by the top US military officer on Sunday that a plan to attack Iran was ready, if needed to stop the Islamic republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was “extremely concerned” about the possible repercussions of such a strike.

Iranian officials have frequently vowed a crushing response to any US and Israeli attacks.

America has Iran attack plan

WASHINGTON: The top US military officer says he has a plan to attack Iran if needed to prevent it from getting nuclear weapons, but is “extremely concerned” about the possible repercussions of such a strike.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said military action against Iran could have “unintended consequences that are difficult to predict in what is an incredibly unstable part of the world.”

But, speaking on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” programme on NBC, Mullen said allowing Iran to develop a nuclear weapon was also unacceptable. “Quite frankly, I am extremely concerned about both of those outcomes,” he said.

Mullen held out hope that a combination of international diplomatic efforts and sanctions against Iran would lead Tehran to suspend a nuclear enrichment program that many believe is a clandestine bid to develop nuclear arms.

“I am hopeful (it) works,” he said. At the same time, though, he said “the military options have been on the table, and remain on the table”.

“I hope we don’t get to that, but it’s an important option and it’s one that’s well understood,” he added. Asked if the military has a plan to strike Iran, Mullen replied, “We do”.

He did not elaborate. Iran insists its uranium enrichment programme is for peaceful purposes only. Meanwhile, Iran will make the strategic Gulf region unsafe for all if it comes under attack by the United States over it nuclear programme, the deputy head of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday.

“If the Americans make the slightest mistake, the security of the region will be endangered. Security in the Persian Gulf should be for all or none,” Yadollah Javani said.

“The Persian Gulf is a strategic region and if it is endangered they (Americans) will suffer losses and our response will be firm.

“We will defend ourselves if America or Israel resort to any hostile measures against our vital values,” he added.

The international community led by the United States has stepped up pressure on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme amid concerns that the Islamic republic is engaged in a covert nuclear weapons programme, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out a military strike to stop Iran’s alleged atomic ambitions. Javani’s declaration preceded comments by the top US military officer on Sunday that a plan to attack Iran was ready, if needed to stop the Islamic republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was “extremely concerned” about the possible repercussions of such a strike. Iranian officials have frequently vowed a crushing response to any US and Israeli attacks.

US worries about repeat of Mumbai attacks: Mullen

WASHINGTON: The US military”s top-ranking officer said Thursday he feared extremists might launch another attack on India, similar to the 2008 rampage in Mumbai, in a bid to spark a war with arch-rival Pakistan.

Speaking to reporters on board his plane bound for New Delhi, Admiral Mike Mullen praised India for showing restraint in the aftermath of the bloody November 2008 attacks that left 166 dead.

“I”ve worried a great deal about a repeat attack, of something like that,” Mullen said. The admiral said he wanted “to focus on making sure this doesn”t happen again”.

Dozens arrested in Bangladesh opposition strike

DHAKA: Bangladeshi security forces arrested dozens of protest-leading activists Sunday as the main opposition party led a dawn-to-dusk general strike across the country.

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Dozens arrested in Bangladesh opposition strike

US military chief in Israel for top-level talks

TEL AVIV: The top US military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday for talks with Israeli military and defence officials, both sides said.

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US military chief in Israel for top-level talks

Admiral Mullen calls on President Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of United States called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday.

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson were also present during the meeting.

Matters relating to Pak-US bilateral relations, fight against militancy and regional security situation were discussed during the meeting.

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