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'Extremely irresponsible'

July 8, 2011

Pakistan has denounced comments by the top-ranking US military officer implying the killing of a Pakistani journalist was sanctioned from above.

https://p.dw.com/p/RYQQ
Syed Saleem Shahzad had said he was threatened by intelligence agents
Syed Saleem Shahzad had said he was threatened by intelligence agentsImage: ap

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