ISLAMABAD (AFP) — US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen Wednesday reiterated Washington respects Pakistan's sovereignty after a row sparked by recent cross-border raids by US forces based in Afghanistan.
Mullen held talks with Pakistan's top army official and the prime minister amid tensions over US raids on tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, known hideouts of Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants.
"Admiral Mullen reiterated the US commitment to respect Pakistan's sovereignty and to develop further US-Pakistani cooperation and coordination on these critical issues that challenge the security and well-being of the people of both countries," a US embassy statement said after talks.
Mullen, who flew in to Islamabad on an unannounced trip late Tuesday, met General Ashfaq Kayani and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was accompanied by several top government officials including defence and foreign ministers.
"The conversations were extremely frank, positive, and constructive," the embassy said and added that Mullen "appreciated the positive role that Pakistan is playing in the war on terror and pledged continued US support to Pakistan."
"The ongoing war against terrorism and the situation on the Afghan border came under discussion," a Pakistani official said, without giving further details.
Security sources in Islamabad said Pakistan conveyed to the US military chief that unilateral cross-border strikes and raids by ground forces based in Afghanistan would be counter-productive.
"Such raids will be a setback to our efforts against the militants' network," the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
It followed anger in the country over a September 3 ground attack by US commandos in tribal South Waziristan district in which 15 people were killed.
Kayani, in a strongly worded statement, previously warned Pakistani armed forces would protect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity "at all cost."
Military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that Pakistan's policy of defending its borders was very clear.
"We have repeatedly said we will defend our territory and we reserve the right to retaliate in case of any aggression," Abbas told AFP ahead of the talks on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in Kabul that his country will work with Pakistan to address the problem of terrorist sanctuaries in the border tribal areas.
Gates said he was encouraged by recent Pakistani military operations which had put pressure on extremists.
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