Pak won’t open any new front against militants in near future: Kayani

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan will not open any new front until it consolidates gains in the areas already recovered from militants, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani reportedly told the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations, Holbrooke had called on Kayani at General Headquarters on Monday, and discussed matters of mutual interest.

However, sources revealed that the US envoy discussed a host of issues with the COAS, including military operations against militants in Afghanistan, talks with Afghan Taliban, the forthcoming NATO meeting in Lisbon and regional stability, The Nation reported.

According to the sources, Kayani briefed Holbrooke on his country’s efforts against the militants, and made it clear that Pakistan would not open any new front until it consolidated gains in the areas already recovered from the militants, the paper said.

The sources further said that the army chief emphasised the need for a political approach to resolve the Afghan conflict, and opposed the US drone strikes against militants in Pakistan, as they were causing more collateral damage and negatively impacting the efforts against terrorists, the paper added. (ANI)