Kayani shares strategy on joint operation with US

Islamabad: Ruling out joint operations with US forces in Pakistan’s North Waziristan Agency (NWA) tribal region, army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has made it clear that if necessary an operation could be undertaken by the country’s own forces after making a decision on the basis of national interest and without any outside pressure.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Kayani conveyed the categorical standpoint during a meeting last night with General James N Mattis, Commander US CENTCOM during which both sides discussed matters of mutual interest at length, according to a military statement Friday.

“COAS clearly reiterated Pakistan’s oft repeated perspective: we might, if necessary, undertake operations in NWA, in the time frame of our choosing and determined only by our political and military requirements. It will never be a result of any outside pressure. Pakistan’s national interest continues to be the prime consideration for any decision in this regard,” said the statement.

He “categorically dispelled the speculative reporting in US media, regarding understanding given to General John Allen, Commander ISAF about Pakistan Army’s readiness to launch joint operations in North Waziristan Agency (NWA),” said the statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The COAS clarified Pakistan’s position by referring to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s statement on July 3, 2012, in which she talked of “coordinated actions against terrorists who threaten Pakistan and the region.”

He pointed out that It is important to distinguish between ‘coordinated action’ and ‘joint operation.’

Coordinated action implies that Pakistan Army and ISAF conduct operation on respective sides of Pak-Afghan Border. For such actions, intelligence sharing is the mainstay of mutual cooperation.

Contrarily a ‘joint operation’ implies that the two forces are physically employed jointly on either side of the border.

A ‘joint operation’ in this sense “is unacceptable to the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan, hence, has always been our clearly stated red line,” General Kayani stressed.

The statement said both sides expressed satisfaction over the level of cooperation between the two militaries and resolved to continue it to further improve relations between the two countries.

The clear-cut reiteration of Pakistani position by Kayani came amid a debate in the country following US media reports of an understanding on joint operations and a statement by Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta, that Pakistani military was set to launch an operation in NWA soon.

The Foreign Office on Thursday also said no foreign troops would be allowed to operate on Pakistani territory.

US has been demanding military action to neutralise sanctuaries of militants in North Waziristan, especially the Haqqani network blamed for attacks on coalition forces in Afghanistan.