Mullen meets Gen Kayani and Gen Tariq Majeed

JULY 17 - US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen on Thursday separately met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majid and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in Islamabad.

They discussed matters of mutual interests during the meetings. Later, Admiral Mullen also visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Jalozai in NWFP.

In separate development, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called President Asif Ali Zardari on telephone in Islamabad late on Thursday. She assured President Zardari of US support to help rehabilitate Swat and Malakand IDPs, President spokesperson Farah Naz Asfahani said.

According to Ispahani, Clinton has said that the US will continue it support for the effectees of Swat and people of Pakistan. Clinton welcomed UN probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, she concluded.

Meanwhile, news reports say a commander of TTP, and five extremists have been held in Khyber Agency. The militants were arrested during the security forces’ operations with a view to recovery of kidnapped officials of security forces including a chief commander Zarmat Khan.

The militants have been shifted to unknown place for stepping up investigation..