Al-Qaeda, Taliban alliance stronger than ever before: Admiral Mullen

September 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Stressing on the need for destroying militant safe havens in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen has said Islamabad is a key ally in the new American strategy to defeat the Taliban. Terming the joint US-Pak policy against extremism as a 'pincer approach', Admiral Mullen said Pakistan's efforts against the militants in FATA should be backed by applying pressure from the Afghan side.

July 31st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has rejected reports that Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin-Laden is hiding inside the country's geographical boundaries. "There is no evidence that Osama Bin Laden is present in Pakistan and claims of his presence in the country should be substantiated with actionable proof," Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said.

July 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Expressing concerns over the expanding terror threat, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen has said Al-Qaeda is trying to get hold of nuclear weapons to wreak havoc across the world particularly in America. Speaking at the Junior Statesman Summer School Programme, Admiral Mullen said the leadership of both Al-Qaeda and the Taliban is desperately trying to acquire nukes to target Western countries.

July 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen has said Al-Qaida chief Osama-bin-Laden is hiding in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and can strike the United States from there. Admiral Mullen said it was due to this fear, crushing Al-Qaeda was on top of Obama Administration's agenda.

July 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen has said that the United States is in the process of nurturing a long-term relationship with Pakistan to help the troubled nation counter the threat emanating from extremist organizations like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda better. Mullen said it is very important for the US to help the security forces of both Pakistan and Afghanistan to quell terrorism more effectively.

May 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said that Iran is on track for building a nuclear weapon by 2011. "Certainly from what I've seen over the years, Iran is on a path to develop a nuclear weapon," Mullen said on ABC's "This Week." He added that: "Most of us believe that it's one to three years depending on assumptions on where they are right now.

May 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States considers the next 12 to 18 months as critical to the success of its revamped AFPAK policy. Addressing an off the record briefing, in which the briefer is not identified, a top US military official said the next year and half would crucial for the US led 'war on terror' against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

May 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen has said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is working to broaden its engagement with Pakistan. Addressing a congressional hearing here, Admiral Mullen said NATO is working out a strategy to seek a more in-depth relationship with Pakistan to help the troubled country counter the terrorism and instability more effectively.

May 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Worried by the ever expanding links between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, the United States has reiterated that Al-Qaeda has shifted its base and is now headquartered in Pakistan. Addressing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Chairman of the U.S.

May 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has said that Pakistan is guarding its nuclear establishments tightly and has taken several security measures for its safety. Addressing a Congressional hearing here, Admiral Mullen assured the Senators that Pakistan's nuclear assets were in safe custody.

April 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen is frustrated particularly by the Pakistani political leadership's inability to confront the extremist threat and remains "very alarmed by the growing Taliban threat in the country," his spokesman has said. Admiral Mullen has made two visits to Pakistan in less than three weeks and is "deeply alarmed by what he has found," his spokesman, Captain John Kirby told CNN.

April 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Expressing serious concern over reports that the Taliban is inching closer towards Islamabad, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has said Pakistan could be taken over by insurgents. "We're certainly moving closer to the tipping point where Pakistan could be overtaken by extremists," The Nation quoted Admiral Mullen, as saying.

April 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States has announced a three fold increase in civilian aid to Pakistan, and is also planning to spend another three billion dollars over the next five years to equip and train the Pakistan Army against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, but the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has made it clear that there is an urgent need to maintain a check on the aid to ensure its proper and correct use. "There hasn't been an audit trail, and there hasn't been accountability measures put in place, and there needs to be for all the funds," Admiral Mullen told The New York Times.

March 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Terming the relation between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Afghan extremists as "an existential threat", the United States has asked Pakistan to cut off all its ties with outlawed groups based in Afghanistan. "What we need to do is try and help the Pakistanis understand these groups are now an existential threat to them," US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said.

March 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen has confirmed media reports that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has close links with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban network, and is offering logistical support them. "There are certainly indications that's the case," The Dawn quoted Admiral Mullen, as saying.