U.S. Admiral Mullen visits Pakistan's Swat valley

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States, Admiral Michael G. Mullen Wednesday visited Pakistan's insurgency-hit Swat valley and met local military commanders, the army said.

Mullen also held talks with Pakistan's army chef General AshfaqParvaiz Kayani, according to a brief army statement.

The statement did not give any further details of the meeting.

Mullen arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday night and met Pakistan's Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majid and discussed evolving regional security situation with particular focus on revised U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and the region, especially its impact and short and long term implications for Pakistan, the army said.

Aspects of bilateral military cooperation also came under discussion, it added.

Sources said that Mullen in meeting with Pakistan's army chief called for action against Afghan Taliban particularly Haqqani network, and believed to be active in North Waziristan tribal region.

Haqqani network is believed to be run by Siraj Haqqani, son of former Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqqani.

Local reports said that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has opposed a proposal by U.S. President Obama to expand military operation in South Waziristan tribal region. Zardari called for more military aid as the country has spent 2.5 billion U.S. dollars on Swat operation.

The two sides also discussed the reports of U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan's southern Balochistan, where U.S. officials claim Afghan Taliban are active in planning attacks in Afghanistan.