Washington, Mar.5 (ANI): The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Armed Forces, Admiral Mike Mullen has described the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan as 'critical' for the ongoing offensive against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other extremist groups in Afghanistan and for the larger war against extremism.
Addressing a group of US military officers at army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, where Admiral Mullen also met Pakistani Envoy to the United States Hussain Haqqani, he said Washington is working towards restoring trust among Pakistani civilians.
Mullen said it is important to reduce the trust deficit which had increased manifold after the White House imposed certain sanctions on Islamabad in 1990's.
"If you don't trust each other we're not going to work together well," The Nation quoted Mullen, as saying.
Interacting with media persons after meeting Mullen, Haqqani underlined Pakistan's tough stance against extremists, saying the recent arrests of top Afghan Taliban commanders in Pakistan clarifies that his nation is committed to support the efforts of the US.
"Pakistanis believe they have been doing a lot in the war on terrorism that has not been recognised by the world," Haqqani said, adding: "Part of it was based on misperceptions rooted in history. Now I think it is very clear that Pakistan's action, whether on the military front or on the terrorist front, are actions that are compatible with the international expectations."
Haqqani, however, pointed out that the relationship between Pakistan and the United States would not improve only by cooperating with each other in the battlefields, rather association in other fields should also be given importance. (ANI)
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