ISLAMABAD: Contrary to peace process gaining momentum in
Afghanistan, US has once again pressed upon Pakistan to move against
the militants indiscriminately without sparing anyone even in North
Wazirirstan.
The demand to carry out an Army operation against
militants especially those in North Waziristan, was renewed by US
Ambassador Cameron Munter when he called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Director General (DG) Inter
Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Athar Abbas confirmed to
Online that Ambassador held a meeting on Wednesday with the COAS.
Saying that he was not privy to the meeting, he declined to give any
details of what they discussed. To a question the army’s top spokesman
told this agency that the Ambassador had requested to meet the COAS.
According
to media reports, the Army chief declined permission to US demand to
open up an American Consulate in Balochistan. However, well-placed
sources told Online that this issue was not discussed during the
meeting as it was not in purview of the army.
When contacted US
Embassy spokesman Alberto Rodriguez said that it was a private meeting
and “We normally do not share private meetings’ details with media”
While defending the Ambassador’s meeting with top General of Pakistan
Army as not being a deviation from the diplomatic norms, he said, “we
are having army to army cooperation.” The Ambassador normally meets
different members of the society while being strategic partner with
Pakistan, he added.
Earlier the sources told ‘Online’ the
Ambassador had conveyed tough message of Obama Administration to
Pakistan’s military leadership that they would have to swallow another
bitter pill of an army operation against North Waziristan’s militants.
“There are tough times ahead for you, as more and more emerging
indicators were not in your favor,” sources closed to the Ambassador
quoted him as telling the Army Chief.
According to the sources,
the Army chief told the US Ambassador that to carry out any fresh army
operation within the territories of Pakistan would be decided by the
government. The Chief told the American Envoy that stopping of drone
attacks in tribal areas of Pakistan would help accelerate the peace
process on both sides of the border with Afghanistan, the sources
added. According to the sources, Kayani reiterated Pakistan’s stance on
drone attacks that they were counter productive in law enforcement
against extremists. Online
