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Admiral Mike Mullen, while urging for a sustained relationship with Pakistan, cited that Islamabad was "very concerned about India. That's not going to go away overnight”. Admiral Mike Mullen is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the US.
Mullen, who was addressing the National Press Club in Washington on Wednesday, mentioned about 30,000 troops have been deployed by Pakistan for tackling the terrorists in South Waziristan.
Mullen said: "It's a very tough fight; they are going into the heart of enemy territory right now. And I think it's going to continue to be a very tough fight, but he (Army Chief Gen. Kayani) clearly, and the leadership, recognises the seriousness of the situation."
"And if you just look at the bombings that have occurred in the last couple of weeks --and more and more Pakistani citizens who are getting killed -- I think they are responding in recognition of the seriousness of this extremist group."
He said Pakistanis have concerns vis-a-vis India on the eastern border.
"They're still very concerned about India. That's not going to go away overnight and we're not going to wish that away," he said.
He mentioned that the Al Qaeda leaders present along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border be a threat to the US.
"We've got to ensure that we don't lose focus there and we are able to, in my view, sustain this relationship with Pakistan. And when I go to Pakistan and Afghanistan, one of the first questions either asked or the question that is always on their lips is, are you leaving this time, are you going to abandon us again? Which we've done, so we've got -- we've been there before and I think we've got obligations and responsibilities based on that before”.
"And in all that, there is a very, very significant threat to us, to the United States of America, which is sustaining itself there -- albeit it's a little bit off balance now. We've had some positive effects but I think we need to keep the pressure on."
