Af-Pak border epicentre of terrorism: Mullen
The Af-Pak border is the "epicentre" of terrorism in the world, and both US and Pakistan need to put pressure on the extremists living in the area.
By PTI |
Washington: The Af-Pak border is the "epicentre" of terrorism in the world, and both US and Pakistan need to put pressure on the extremists living in the area, a top American military official said.
"I call that border area, which is in Afghanistan and Pakistan, although if you go there and ask those that live there, there's no border to them. This is their home, either side of it. And that area is an area that is, I call, the epicenter of terrorism in the world," Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the Arizona State University in Phoenix.
"We both need to keep pressure on that," he said. The suicide bombers and the recent assassinations of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Pakistan's Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti are major concerns, he said in response to a question.
Mullen, who visited Pakistan for more than 20 times in last two years, said the Pakistani military has suffered tens of thousands of casualties and lost almost 10,000 soldiers in recent years in the last few years.
"The Pakistani military has moved a large number of troops from the east and the border in Kashmir to the west, where this terrorist threat exists," he added.
"I call that border area, which is in Afghanistan and Pakistan, although if you go there and ask those that live there, there's no border to them. This is their home, either side of it. And that area is an area that is, I call, the epicenter of terrorism in the world," Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the Arizona State University in Phoenix.
"We both need to keep pressure on that," he said. The suicide bombers and the recent assassinations of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Pakistan's Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti are major concerns, he said in response to a question.
Mullen, who visited Pakistan for more than 20 times in last two years, said the Pakistani military has suffered tens of thousands of casualties and lost almost 10,000 soldiers in recent years in the last few years.
"The Pakistani military has moved a large number of troops from the east and the border in Kashmir to the west, where this terrorist threat exists," he added.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
