Mullen’s Haqqani statement baseless: COAS

Updated at: 1946 PST,  Friday, September 23, 2011  RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said the statement of Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding links with the Haqqani network is against facts, Geo News reported. COAS Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in a statement, termed these accusations as very unfortunate and not based on facts. This is especially disturbing in view of a rather constructive meeting with Admiral Mullen in Spain, he said. On the specific question of contacts with Haqqanis, the COAS said that Admiral Mullen knows fully well which all countries are in contact with the Haqqanis. Singling out Pakistan is neither fair nor productive, the statement said. ‘Categorically denying the accusations of proxy war and ISI support to Haqqanis, the COAS wished that, the blame game in public statements should give way to a constructive and meaningful engagement for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, an objective to which Pakistan is fully committed.’