No surety Mohmand-like incidents wont recur: Isaf
Published: December 12, 2011
DUBAI (Agencies) - Isaf Commander in Afghanistan John Allen has denied giving any assurance that incidents like Nato airstrike in Mohmand will not happen again during the war in Afghanistan.
In an interview with Khaleej Times on Sunday, he however expressed his regret over the martyrdom of 24 Pakistani troops in the cross-border attack on November 26 on a border checkpost which Pakistan Army has categorically declared as deliberate and pre-planned, rejecting Nato/Isaf assertions that it was accidental.
When asked, if there were any guarantees that such an accident will not recur, Gen Allen said: You simply cant guarantee anything in war. The conditions are difficult at the border, let the investigation play out, we will look carefully. If we find fault on our part, we will resolve that
we will look at every aspect of the circumstances to make sure it does not happen again. The allegation that it was an intentional act is simply not true; defies every logic; why we would attack Pakistan or attack Pakistani troops. As commander of Isaf and of US troops, I give you my assurance that it was not an intentional attack and it is important I say that publicly, said Gen Allen
I am telling you nobody is happy this happened. Twenty-four young Pakistani soldiers were killed. It breaks my heart, so I want you to know we will investigate this. We have a long relationship with Pakistan and have been through some very tough times together. We understand the rage in Pakistan but its not because of this incident alone, there are other things that have compounded the environment.
The Nato attack has led to widespread anger in Pakistan. The government and military have responded with several measures, including recalling their liaison officers, implementing air defence systems on the border and disallowing US drone flights from the Shamsi airbase. More importantly, Nato supply routes have been closed for the past two weeks even as investigations into the incident by the US Central Command and Nato is under way.
However, Gen Allans words of counsel in the aftermath of the incident and in context with the deterioration of Pakistans relations with the US and Nato were to exercise caution. I simply call on all sides that the words we speak and the deeds we undertake do not go so far that we cannot achieve equilibrium in the end, thats all we should seek to achieve in the end, a relationship of equilibrium in the long run. My appeal to Pakistan is that there is a virulent insurgency and this is poised to attack Pakistan, Afghanistan and the members of ISAF, he said.
Gen Allen also spoke about the strategic coordination and cooperation between the Isaf and Pakistan and highlighted the importance of having a sustained long-term relationship that benefits not only the Isaf but more importantly Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Responding to a question on the impact of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network allegedly present in Pakistans North Waziristan agency on the Afghan insurgency and whether he foresaw any progress in Pakistan coming onboard and starting operations against them, he said: For now I think that conversation needs to be on hold. It is my sincere hope that at some point in the future we will have a chance to sit down and discuss the potential. For now the Haqqani network is at work targeting the Isaf, Afghan leaders, government, civilians and wherever we find them, we will deal with them inside Afghanistan. The conversation with Pakistan at the moment is frozen on this issue but I think I will be no less determined to have the same productive conversation I have had in the past with General Kayani and work together to solve this problem.
But Gen Allen said, The appeal of the Taliban is fading, and the Talibans narrative is becoming stale, as he denied there was any confusion in Isaf tactics of both keeping up military pressure on the insurgents while at the same time seeking dialogue to find a political solution. We will pressure the insurgency, so they cannot find a military win, he said. As in any insurgency, they need to know that they cannot win by continuing to fight. In addition, we are helping to create a strong Afghan force, to which we will facilitate transition.
Gen Allen and Natos Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan Sir Simon Gass were in Dubai and spoke to the media about the encouraging trends in the security, political and development spheres in Afghanistan. At the time of the November 26 incident, Gen Allen had gone to Islamabad for talks with Pakistan Army Chief General Kayani.
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