Kiyani says army stands for peace and security

Islamabad: Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani hopes peace and stability will be maintained in South Asia.

"Pakistan Army stands for peace and security," Kiyani was quoted as telling his top commanders at the 113th Corps Commanders' conference.

The corps commanders conference, an elite decision-making forum of top generals of the Pakistani Army, comes a few days after the Mumbai terror attacks which have brought the South Asian neighbours to the highest level of confrontation level since the 2001 standoff between them as a result of an attack on Indian Parliament.

Since the Mumbai attacks, however, there has not been any escalation or significant troop movement on the borders of both countries.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars in 1965 and 1971 and were also involved in a full-fledged military conflict in Kargil in 1998.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Ahmad Shujaa Pasha called on Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani and briefed him on the security issues. "He briefed the Prime Minister on the regional security issues," a statement said.

The ISI chief's India visit, as demanded by the Indian Prime Minister immediately after the Mumbai carnage, drew a lot of media attention and opposition criticism in Pakistan.

The Peoples Party government initially agreed to send the intelligence agency chief to India, but then backtracked owing to severe domestic criticism from political parties and pressure groups.