Kayani urges halt to drone incursions

Thursday, November 20, 2008Stresses respect for national boundaries; vows to keep Nato supply line open
RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Wednesday urged the top military officers of Nato to halt unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) incursions into Pakistani territory, stressing the need for coordinated operations within respective national boundaries.
According to an ISPR press release issued here, General Kayani was addressing the military committee of Nato in Brussels. Chairman of the military committee of Nato Admiral Giampaolo Di Paolo had invited the Pakistan Army chief to address the committee.
Kayani focused on Pakistan’s perspective on the obtaining environment, operational issues and the way forward. He clearly spelt the need for security and stability in the region through a comprehensive approach.
He highlighted the need for reinforcing Pakistan’s efforts against the militants. Earlier, General Kayani held separate bilateral meetings with Secretary General of the Nato Jaap dee Hoop Scheffer and Chairman of the Nato Military Committee Admiral Giampaolo Di Paolo.
He also held individual meetings with the French chief of Defence and Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, USA. General Kayani also attended a luncheon hosted by Chairman Military Committee, which was attended by all chiefs of Nato members as well as those from partnership for peace nations.
AFP adds from Brussels: General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani vowed to keep the Nato’s supply line to Afghanistan open and reaffirmed support for the military alliance’s mission there, a senior Nato officer said.“We will do whatever is possible, whatever is within our power to ensure that this line of supply is open,” Kayani told top officers, according to Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, head of Nato’s military committee.
“We understand how critical it is to Afghanistan ... and because we want Afghanistan to succeed we would harm ourselves if we did not do our best to ensure that,” Di Paola quoted Kayani as saying. “A stable and peaceful Afghanistan is in the vital interests of Pakistan.”
Di Paola said Kayani also “made a very in-depth and complex presentation” to Nato chiefs of defence explaining why factors of geography, culture and history make it impossible to stop people crossing the border.
“There is no force which alone can block (the border). Flow across that line is part of normal life for centuries, will continue to be part of normal life for centuries,” said Di Paola.It is only by “engaging the people living there, and having their understanding and their support that we can facilitate a solution,” he said. General Kayani urged the Nato to engage with Pashtuns living in tribal regions near Afghanistan rather than simply try to seal the border to stop Taliban militants crossing over.
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