Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has refused to meet US Assistant Secretary of Defence Peter Lavoy after Leon Panetta’s accusation about Pakistan of having safe havens for insurgents.
On Thursday, US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta had said during his visit to Kabul that Washington was running out of patience with Islamabad over its reluctance to go after the militant Haqqani group in its semi-governed northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
Sources told Online that General Kayani has refused the US Assistant Secretary Defence of giving him a time slot for meeting. “Army Chief conveyed to the Pentagon that due to his commitments he could not meet the visiting US Assistant Secretary of Defence,” claimed the official.
Peter Lavoy, however tried to have a meeting with Kayani. “During last three days Lavoy constantly remained in touch with General Headquarters (GHQ) for the meeting with the Army Chief,” he added.
The official said the Pakistan army was annoyed on the US drone policy for Pakistan and that Panetta’s statement added fuel to the workingrelations between the two allies in war against terrorism.
Meanwhile, a diplomatic source said the second round of Pak-US talks on the resumption of communication line for NATO has also failed. “USAssistant Secretary of Defence Peter Lavoy was to leave the country late Sunday or early Monday with empty hands,” said the source.
An official of ISPR has denied the report that General Kayani had refused to meet US Assistant Secretary of Defence and said because of weekend the meeting could not take place. “Saturday and Sunday are also off in army,” he added.
US embassy acting spokesmen Robert Raines said no meeting was scheduled between Army Chief and Peter Lavoy. “US Assistant Secretary of Defence, however had a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart,” said Raines.
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