Pakistan’s army chief reacted angrily to US dismay that his forces had not acted to repel a Taliban insurgency advancing on Islamabad, the country’s capital and home to some of its nuclear assets.
Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani condemned the “pronouncements by outside powers raising doubts on the future of the country” in a rare statement at the weekend, insisting that his troops were ready for battle against any threat.
Ahmed Quraishi EXCLUSIVE
Why did Richard Halbrooke, always arrogant and calm, appear shaken today in Islamabad? Read this exclusive report by Ahmed Quraishi
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—For the first time in a long time, the Pakistani government managed to turn heads in Washington by saying all things America doesn’t want to hear: Islamabad will not allow the United States to expand its war inside Pakistan, won’t allow U.S. boots on the ground, and CIA better stop its drone attacks ASAP. If this was not enough, the ISI chief reportedly refused to meet top U.S. officials and a former air force chief announced that the Pakistani Air Force is just a green signal away from shooting down CIA’s drones and that it only awaited orders from the President and the Prime Minister.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency chief on Tuesday refused to meet visiting US Special Representative Richard Holbrooke and American military commander Admiral Mike Mullen in an apparent reaction to criticism of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency for its alleged links with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Earlier, the Chief of Army staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had categorically said that continued drones attacks and baseless allegations on Pakistan intelligence agency ‘ISI’ are increasingly making it difficult for Pakistan to cooperate with the US in achieving the objectives of war on terror.
