Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani met with his top commanders on Sunday in a "special" meeting to discuss the security situation, the military said, as the war of words with the United States escalated.
The extraordinary meeting of the corps commanders came against the backdrop of sharp US allegations that the Pakistani army's powerful spy agency supported the Haqqani militant group Washington blames for the recent attack on its embassy and other targets in Kabul.
“The prevailing security situation was discussed,” military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said without giving details.
Kayani, who is departing for London later on Sunday to address the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Royal College of Defence Studies, chaired the meeting.
Separately, the US CENTCOM commander General James N Mattis met with Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Khalid Shameem Wyne, who expressed concern over the “negative statements emanating from (the) US.”
“He (Wyne) stressed upon addressing the irritants in relationship which are a result of an extremely complex situation,” the military said in a statement.
“He reiterated that Pakistan armed forces are committed to achieving enduring peace in the region which will only be possible through mutual trust and cooperation.”
{{/usCountry}}“He reiterated that Pakistan armed forces are committed to achieving enduring peace in the region which will only be possible through mutual trust and cooperation.”
{{/usCountry}}Haqqanis links
In the most blunt remarks by a US official since Pakistan joined the US-led war on militancy, the outgoing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, on Thursday testified before the Senate that the Haqqani militant network is a "veritable arm" of the ISI.
He also for the first time held Islamabad responsible for the Kabul attack, saying Pakistan provided support for that assault.