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US military chief vows to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty

Defence secretary ‘personally’ regrets killing of Afghan civilians

AP, Islamabad, Kabul
The US military chief vowed yesterday to respect Pakistan's sovereignty, the American Embassy said a commitment apparently aimed at easing controversy over a rash of US attacks on militant havens near the border with Afghanistan.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, arrived in Pakistan late Tuesday to discuss a range of issues, including ways to improve coordination and cooperation, in the wake of Pakistani anger over a Sept. 3 ground attack by US commandos in a border area.
He met separately with army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for what an embassy statement called "extremely frank, positive and constructive’ discussions.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, during a visit to Kabul yesterday, expressed "personal regret" for recent US airstrikes that killed Afghan civilians, and pledged more accurate targeting in future.
After meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other senior government officials, Gates
said at a news conference, "As I told them, I offer all Afghans my sincere condolences and personal regret for the recent loss of innocent life as a result of coalition airstrikes."
Gates said the US military takes extraordinary precautions to avoid civilian casualties, but added, "It is clear that we have to work even harder." He told Afghan officials that he would be discussing the issue with American commanders and pilots on Wednesday.
Later, Gates flew to Bagram, the main US base in Afghanistan.
Admiral Mike Mullen arrived the same day in Pakistan as its army said its forces have orders to open fire if US troops launch another raid across the Afghan border, raising the stakes in a dispute over how to tackle militant havens in Pakistan's unruly border zone.
"The Pakistani leaders reviewed the progress of Pakistan's efforts to combat militancy, violence and terrorism." the embassy statement said. "Adm Mullen appreciated the positive role that Pakistan is playing in the war on terror and pledged continued US support to Pakistan.
"In this context, Adm Mullen reiterated the US commitment to respect Pakistan's sovereignty and to develop further US-Pakistani cooperation and coordination on these critical issues that challenge the security and well-being of the people of both countries," itsaid.
Pakistan's government has faced rising popular anger over the Sept. 3 attack by US commandos into South Waziristan, a base for Taliban militants who have been killing increasing numbers of US troops in Afghanistan. Pakistan says about 15 people were killed in the raid, all civilians.
The new firing orders were disclosed by Pakistani army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press.
Abbas said Pakistani field commanders have previously been tolerant about international forces crossing a short way into Pakistan because of the ill-defined and contested nature of the mountainous frontier.
"But after the (Sept. 3) incident, the orders are clear," Abbas said. "In case it happens again in this form, that there is a very
significant detection, which is very definite, no ambiguity, across the border, on ground or in the air: open fire."
The statement was the strongest since Kayani raised eyebrows last week by vowing to defend Pakistani territory "at all cost." Abbas would not say whether the orders were discussed in advance with US officials.
The Democratic chairman of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South Asia, Gary Ackerman, and other US lawmakers expressed concern about Abbas' comments at a hearing Tuesday to examine a White House request to fund an upgrade of Pakistan's aging fleet of F-16 fighter planes.
Responding to the concerns, Donald Camp, deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, said: "I cannot envision a situation where we would find ourselves in a shooting situation with Pakistan."
US military commanders complain Islamabad has been doing too little to prevent the Taliban and other militant groups from recruiting, training and resupplying in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt.