Mullen urges strict steps against LeT
ISLAMABAD: The United States sees the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) becoming more “lethal” by the day and thinks its gradual growth now clearly shows that it has global inspirations to spread terror.
“I have watched since 2008 the LeT move to the West, getting more active in the region and engaging more with other terrorist groups. It heightens our concern as it is not only confined to the region but has global inspirations,”
Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said while speaking to the media at the residence of US Ambassador Anne Patterson. He also sought strict steps by Pakistan against the LeT.
In Pakistan on his 19th visit, which is a record of sorts, this visit is being billed as part of the regular bilateral consultations between the US and Pakistan, where he met with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Tariq Majid and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
“This time I managed to take a tour to the north and got to see as significant part of the country. The message I got was the degree of difficulty in this terrain in the north. We (Kayani) had discussions about Pakistan,” said Mullen, returning from a terrain where the admiral saw first hand, how wars can be won with the correct military strategy.
Mullen expressed apprehensions at the manner that the LeT was becoming more “lethal” in Afghanistan and other countries. He said this was not a new issue, and one that he raised with the leadership here.
“We all have to be concerned,” he said, showing greater diplomacy than when was in New Delhi where he told Times Now that “the US was putting extraordinary amount of pressure” on Pakistan to take action against LeT and other terror groups operating from its soil.
“I have seen the Pakistani leadership also recognise this and they are taking significant steps over the last couple of years to address that,” he said.
To a query, Mullen said it was not correct that the US acts only on intelligence that is provided by India.
“Our information and intelligence does not come from India specifically. We continue to focus heavily on our borders and we will continue to focus on closing safe havens which is a long way from depending on India,” he said.
The confusion in the overall US policy on Afghanistan and particularly regarding the Haqqani network is turning out to be more like a Greek tragedy.
When the question of the Haqqani network was put to him, Mullen did not strike out a possibility in the future of President Karzai talking to the Haqqani network, since reconciliation was an Afghan-led process. While stressing on a regional approach towards Afghanistan, Mullen said that reconciliation was a very important piece of process.
“The US position is that you can only be successful from a position of strength. We are not in a position of strength. The Haqqani network is very strong and involved in insurgency. We need to be stronger to reconcile with them. Karzai leads this and Pakistan too has stakes. It could be at a time when we are strong enough to open that reconciliation,” he explained.
Mullen shared these thoughts at a time when the US has said it wants Pakistan to implement UN curbs against three key financiers who raised money for the Taliban and Haqqani network, a day after slapping sanctions on the leaders of these outfits.
“Pakistan, as a UN member, must implement this international action,” the State Department said in a statement.
Mullen says that Pak-US relations though improving are not where they were when “we broke off”.
“We have had improved relations since 2002 and that is the reason I come back so many times. We still have a fair amount of work to do”, he said.
To a query, Mullen said the US had nothing to do with Kayani’s extension as “this was purely a political decision which a sovereign country makes”.
To another query, Mullen said there was no truth that there were secret US troops in Pakistan.
He was asked about a comment from Democratic Representative Dennis Kucinich, who said: “We have known that US forces have been operating in secret inside the territories of Pakistan without congressional approval.”
“The US troops presently in Pakistan are here for support and training purposes and there are certainly no secret troops. These troops are here at the request of the Pakistan government. We value our relationship with the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy,” said Mullen.
When asked to explain what he meant that he did not understand some of what the ISI was doing, Mullen was reluctant to get into details.
“There are some concerns as there are parts of ISI that I do not understand. I want to leave it at that,” he replied to a query. When asked if he had raised these issues that he did not “understand” with the ISI, Mullen refused to give further details.
“The military and the ISI have captured and killed more terrorists than anyone else in the world. They have worked well and I am aware of yow we share intelligence but again there are some parts of ISI, I do not understand,” he said.
Mullen insisted that Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan but the US has not received good intelligence on him for several years now.
“One reason is that they hide well, exceptionally well, and they have extraordinary ways of staying alive. It is a complex problem but it is important that Osama is captured or killed. There is a degree of difficulty to execute this,” he said.
FM rubbishes Obama presence; asks for proofs
LAHORE: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Saturday that India must include Kashmir Issue in talks with Pakistan, Geo News reported.
The presence of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar in Pakistan is just rubbish not more than that, he said. “Pakistan wants concrete evidences proving the whereabouts of either Osama or Omer”, he urged.
“It will be impossible for Pakistan to continue with composite dialogue if India does not pay importance to Kashmir Issue”, he said.
Talking to media at airport after his arrival from China visit, he termed Pak-Afg transit trade agreement as an achievement, ruling out provision of a route for India to pour its goods into Pakistan through that deal.
“Federal government is all set to defend the agreement in case, any resolution gets passed in Punjab Assembly to shoot down the pact”, Qureshi vowed.
Throwing light on his China visit, Qureshi said that China applauded Pakistan’s sacrifices being laid down in way of fight against terrorism.
To a question, Qureshi angrily replied that if any one claims that Osama Bin Laden or Mullah Omar are hiding in Pakistan, he must also have to produce evidences in front of government of Pakistan.
How Angelina got in special agent shape for ‘Salt’
LOS ANGELES: Angelina Jolie had to be in tip-top shape for her role as a kick-ass CIA agent on the run in the new action thriller Salt, opening today.
So what did the stunning A-lister do to prepare for the demanding part? She ate about five small meals a day and stuck to a diet of 70% carbs and 30% protein–and actually avoided cardio–to help “put muscle on without losing weight,” says trainer Simon Crane, who worked with the actress to get in top form for the film.
On the hit list: No junk food, and alcohol only on weekends. And the most surprising thing about Angelina’s Salt diet? Carbs weren’t a mortal enemy.
To build muscle and stamina for her role as CIA officer Evelyn Salt, Jolie was disciplined with her training regimen.
“She knew that she was going to suffer!” says Crane, who started the actress with two-hour training sessions, five days a week. Both strength and fight training helped prepare the star for stunts involving safety cables and wire rigs.
Once shooting began, they took training down a notch by squeezing in four weekly sessions over lunch breaks and weekends, and altered her diet to 60% carbs and 40% protein.
And forget about any fear of heights: ”She loves doing action,” says Crane.
tony mccoy
April 10, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
National glory at last for McCoy
Jockey Tony McCoy on Don’t Push It has romped to his first victory in the Grant National – at the 15th attempt.
The 14-time champion jockey had dreamed of one day winning the world’s greatest steeplechase, and he was ecstatic and tearful as he finally conquered the demanding four-and-a-half mile course at Aintree, Liverpool, to the delight of the packed crowds.
With the final fences in sight McCoy, 35, from Northern Ireland, burst through for a fairytale victory as 10/1 joint favourite.
Afterwards he said: “I have won lots of great races but I am supposed to be a great rider and to not have won it was a big gap in the CV. I am delighted.”
No Assurance on Demanding Resignation from President: Nisar
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Pakistan’s two major parties have failed to come out with a clear policy as the top leadership of both PPP and PML-N remain silent on major issues while the second tier leadership is continuously accusing each other and giving hard-line statements.
Opposition Leader in National Assembly and senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Tuesday that his party will not demand President Zardari to resign if the government acts upon Supreme Court’s verdict. He said Presidential spokesman has no right to announce policy statement of PML-N. He was talking to newsmen in Islamabad.
Commenting on Farhatullah Babar’s statement that PML-N has assured of not demanding President’s resignation, Ch. Nisar said his party can’t guarantee anyone for not demanding President Asif Ali Zardari to resign. “Farhatullah Babar’s statement is absolutely absurd.” He said PML-N doesn’t want to confront the government. “It was very easy for us to give irrational statements but we decided against it for the stability of the country.” Nisar said cases have been proved against Pakistan People’s Party leaders in the country and abroad. He said people who are taunting Supreme Court are not well wishers of the country. PPP on one hand talks about implementation of the court’s verdict and on the other hand talks about Sindh card.
No Assurance on Demanding Resignation from President: Nisar was first posted on December 22, 2009 at 9:47 pm.
