'Extremely irresponsible'
July 8, 2011
Pakistan on Friday denounced as "extremely irresponsible" comments by the top-ranking US military officer that elements of the Pakistan government had sanctioned the killing of a Pakistani journalist in May.
The remarks by Admiral Mike Mullen are likely to place new
strains on Pakistan-US ties, already seriously damaged
following the killing of Osama bin Laden by US forces in
Pakistan in May.
The death of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad prompted intense
speculation about the possible involvement of the Pakistan
military's powerful spy agency, Inter Services Intelligence
(ISI), but Mullen said on Thursday he could not confirm
involvement of the ISI.
"If it is true, than the statement is extremely irresponsible," a Pakistani government spokesman said of Mullen's remarks, in a statement quoted by the official APP news agency. "It will not help in investigating the issue."
Reuters