US Gen proposes joint military classes for India, Pak officers

MATTIS-LD INDOPAK

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jul 28 (PTI) A top US General Wednesday
proposed that senior military officers from India and Pakistan
should attend joint courses in American Services institutions
as a means to create trust between the military leaders of the
two countries.
Such a move, General James Mattis, who has been named as
the new commander of the US Central Command, said, would
create the much needed trust between the military leaders of
the two countries, which is required in addition to the
ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two nations.
"As we all know, they (India and Pakistan) have fought
several wars over a number of issues. There's the Kashmir
issue. There's any number of terrorist attacks," Gen James
Mattis said in his confirmation hearing before the powerful
Senate Armed Services Committee.
"But I think the most important thing we can do in
support of the diplomatic efforts which will fundamentally be
how we change something like this, is to help bring the
officer corps of both militaries together and create trust
between them, allow them to perhaps attend our school
together," Mattis said.
The Marine General has suggested that military leaders
from the two countries, once in US should be made to study the
American civil war together. The civil war was fought between
opposing armies in the then divided America.
US President Barack Obama has nominated Gen Mattis as
his Commander for the US Central Command, which handles
Afghanistan and Pakistan. India comes under the jurisdiction
of the Pacific Command.
"As they do, they get to know each other there and even
do some of the things we've done elsewhere in the world where
we bring different sides during frozen conflicts together," he
argued.
"For example, at the Army School at Leavenworth, they're
up at Carlisle Barracks, and let them study our Civil War
together. And after a few days, they start warming up. I think
there are ways for us to build trust between officer corps
that will help stabilise these issues, but it's fundamentally
a political problem, not a military one of course," Mattis
said in response to a question from Senator Scott Brown.
Earlier in written response to Senator's questions,
Mattis said that Pakistan has concerns about any military
cooperation between the US and India, which affects both their
relationship with Islamabad and, indirectly, the US efforts in
Afghanistan.
"However, we make clear to Pakistan that our military
cooperation and engagement is not a threat to Pakistan and
that this is not a zero-sum game. We have important
relationships and strategic partnerships with both countries
that are not at the expense of either," Mattis said.
The US General said close coordination between Central
Command (CENTCOM) and Pacific Command (PACOM) is a recognised
condition for the regions' challenges to be addressed.
"Though some advantages could be realised with India and
Pakistan in one AOR, PACOM and CENTCOM, with adequate
coordination mechanisms to address US interests in the region,
can work symbiotically on long-term security measures," Mattis
said. PTI LKJ
MRD


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain
proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments
contained in it.