Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Tuesday told US lawmakers that it is important to recognize the anti-militant success Pakistan has recently achieved and advocated long-term cooperative relationship with the key South Asian ally in defeating al Qaeda along the Afghan border.
In reference to Pakistani actions in the northwestern territories, Mullen said that in the last year the Pakistani military and the Frontier Corps have acheived a lot and noted that their actions had a big impact.
"There has been a lot that has been changed in the last year in Pakistan with what the Pakistani military and the frontier corps have achieved.
"And I think it's important to recognize that, because a year or two ago, there were many people who were very skeptical that they would do anything. And they've had a big impact. It hasn't been perfect," Mullen stated appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a confirmation hearing of his second term as chairman.
Mullen also cited Pakistan army's progress in counterinsurgency training. He said the US will continue to support Pakistan at the pace Islamabad desires.
"We are there to support them where they are asking our support. That said, it's only going to go as fast as they want it to go. And that's --- I've been there I think 13 times. It's very clear to me that they very much appreciate the support; but it's going to be at their pace --- even though we would like --- many of us would like to see it happen more quickly."
He drew the lawmakers' attention to the vitality of US assistance for Pakistan in the long-term perspective under a pending bipartisan bill, sponsored by senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar.
"We think that is an important long-term relationship. They still ask the question, are you staying or going this time? Not unlike the question that gets asked in Afghanistan. Kerry-Lugar bill is very important, as far as I am concerned because it is not about $ 1.5 billion a year as much as it is a five-year commitment to Pakistan.
"So our strategy is, I think, much more comprehensive with Pakistan than it used to be. That said, there are limits. It's a sovereign country, and they are very much in charge of their own country."
He said the US and its allies "have had success in diminishing al Qaeda leadership.
"It's not as strong as it was, but it is still very lethal, still very focused on us as a country, planning to still execute attacks against us and other Western interests. So there has been progress but we still got a long way to go."
He expressed concern over the Afghan militant groups operating along Afghan-Pakistan border and claimed the border is likely to remain dangerous.