Mullen urges India, Pakistan to refrain from public spats

Washington, Jan.27 (ANI): US Joint Chiefs of staff Admiral Mike Mullen has urged India and Pakistan to restrain themselves from publicly accusing each other and to avoid disputes which could further destabilise the region.

Addressing the third annual US Central Command chiefs of defence conference here, Mullen said issues can be discussed resolved privately without raking up public anger.

"I think it's really important that we work as hard as we can with each other, and that any kind of public accusations or public finger pointing, quite frankly, that does not serve any of us well. That doesn't mean we won't have disagreements. But I hope that we can do that privately, and not publicly," The Dawn quoted Mullen, as saying.

Mullen called on the armed forces of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan to work cohesively against the extremist organisations, as the militants have joined hands against these three nations.

"I would almost call it the harmonisation of the terrorists, the collaboration of the terrorists. These groups that didn't work with each other at all now are more and more collaborative. And that requires us to be much more harmonious," he said.

The US military chief said that the US and Pakistani security forces are working together to avoid misunderstanding about troop movements and activities in the bordering areas, and to 'ensure that their operations complement each other, rather than just push the terrorists back and forth across the Afghan border.'

Mullen also called for more exchanges between the South Asian armed forces and praised Indian Army's Vice Army Chief Lieutenant General P.C. Bhardwaj for participating in the conference. (ANI)