Pakistan is currently reassessing its relationship with the United States in the aftermath of the May 2 American unilateral raid that killed Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad lair, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen has said.
Relations between both nations have hit a new low since US Navy Seals' military operation inside Pakistani territory on May 2 without informing the military and political leadership in Islamabad.
"Clearly what has happened, they are going through an internal reassessment period of time and part of that is reassess their relationship with the US," The Nation quoted Mullen, as telling reporters during a luncheon with the Pentagon Press Association.
He noted that the reduction in US trainer troops and few other steps being taken by Pakistan are a direct result of this.
"The US stance is that we need to sustain this relationship. They have certainly dramatically reduced the size of the training foot print form where it was. And this is a part of their reassessment both internally and externally," Mullen said in response to a question.
"So we have fewer trainers from that perspective that makes some sense for me, I do not agree of the choice they make," he added.
When asked about Pakistan's contribution in the ongoing war on terror, Mullen said: "They (Pakistan) have, despite the criticism about (not taking action against the Haqqani network), lost thousands of citizens, they have killed or captured more terrorists in any country. So it is not like they are sitting on the side lines here."
"They have been engaged in many ways. The events speak to it. We are going through a very difficult time, of reassessment right now and I am not exactly sure how it comes out and what the specifics would be but I hope that as we work our way through this we are able to sustain this relationship," he added. ANI
Relations between both nations have hit a new low since US Navy Seals' military operation inside Pakistani territory on May 2 without informing the military and political leadership in Islamabad.
"Clearly what has happened, they are going through an internal reassessment period of time and part of that is reassess their relationship with the US," The Nation quoted Mullen, as telling reporters during a luncheon with the Pentagon Press Association.
He noted that the reduction in US trainer troops and few other steps being taken by Pakistan are a direct result of this.
"The US stance is that we need to sustain this relationship. They have certainly dramatically reduced the size of the training foot print form where it was. And this is a part of their reassessment both internally and externally," Mullen said in response to a question.
"So we have fewer trainers from that perspective that makes some sense for me, I do not agree of the choice they make," he added.
When asked about Pakistan's contribution in the ongoing war on terror, Mullen said: "They (Pakistan) have, despite the criticism about (not taking action against the Haqqani network), lost thousands of citizens, they have killed or captured more terrorists in any country. So it is not like they are sitting on the side lines here."
"They have been engaged in many ways. The events speak to it. We are going through a very difficult time, of reassessment right now and I am not exactly sure how it comes out and what the specifics would be but I hope that as we work our way through this we are able to sustain this relationship," he added. ANI
