Asia-Pacific

Pakistan army cancels US trip amid search dispute

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-09-02 10:03

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's military canceled a trip by officers to an annual meeting at US Central Command after they were taken off a plane and subjected to "unwarranted security checks" in Washington, a spokesman said.

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The incident could complicate already sensitive military relations between the US and Pakistan, which are in an uneasy alliance in the fight against Taliban and al-Qaida militants. And it could fall to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen to try to smooth over the issue when he meets Thursday with Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and others.

However, Capt. John Kirby, a spokesman for Mullen, said Wednesday that the chairman "believes this is an issue better addressed by the airlines and has no intention of raising it with Pakistani officials."

During Mullen's daylong visit to Pakistan, he hopes to get an update on Pakistan-US cooperation in bringing relief to victims of the country's devastating floods.

The nine-member Pakistani delegation, headed by a two-star Navy rear admiral, was already aboard United Airlines Flight 727 at Dulles International Airport when one of them reportedly told a flight attendant that he hoped the flight was his last, in reference to their long day's travel from Islamabad.

The comment prompted concern and secuks and were hailed as heroes by sections of the media on their return.

The delegation was the Pakistani contingent of this year's US-Pakistan Military Consultative Committee meeting, an annual session where the two nation's outline military-to-military programs for the following year, said Marine Maj. David Nevers, a Centcom spokesman in Tampa.

US officials are trying to reschedule the meeting with Pakistanis, he said.