President Musharraf meets US General

Islamabad, Dec 30 (UNI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf met the US Army Chief of Staff and discussed military as well as ongoing anti-terror cooperation between the two countries.

US general Peter J Schoomaker discussed the latest situation in the region, strategic issues and professional matters, Dawn newspaper quoted media reports.

Pakistan's private online news agency reported that President Musharraf told the US general that Pakistan would never compromise on its sovereignty and national interest in the war against terror and all possible measures would be adopted to uphold national integrity.

He said strengthening military, strategic and defence ties between the two countries would help eliminate terrorism and extremism from the world.

The US chief of staff reportedly lauded the achievements and professional capabilities of Pakistan Army in the war against terror.

The meeting took place a day after Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said here that Pakistan would start mining and fencing its borders with Afghanistan from the next month to stop cross border movements by the Taliban and al-Qaeda operatives.

Afghanistan has opposed the plan, saying the ''impractical decision'' will separate families on the two sides of the border.

The Army will work out necessary details including the sections, which are to be fenced and mined on the 2,400 km border. Designated crossing points will be established to facilitate movements of people across the border under the 'easement rights'.

Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan got strained early this year after Afghannistan President Hamid Karzai and senior officials in his administration began accusing Islamabad of not doing enough to check the illegal cross border movements by the Taliban insurgents.

Pakistan, which has deployed over 80,000 troops on its borders with Afghanistan, repeatedly denied the accusation as 'nonsensical' and proposed selective fencing of mining on its side of the border.

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