Mullen In Pakistan As Tension With India Escalates

December 22, 2008 10:09 p.m. EST

Islamabad, Pakistan (AHN) - Fighter jets flew over Pakistan's major cities Monday in a sign of vigilance against possible strikes by India in retaliation for the Mumbai terror attacks by Pakistani militants.

The sky patrol was in effect as the top U.S. military official, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, arrived Monday and met with Pakistani Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez in Islamabad to discuss the situation between Pakistan and India and other security issues of the country and its neighbors. Mullen, who is on his second visit to Pakistan this month to defuse India-Pakistan tension, will also meet with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistani Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Humayun Viqar Zephyr said fighter jets were scrambled to fly over the capital, Rawalpindi and other cities "in view of the current environment."

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday pledged to defend the country and said the Pakistani people are united to face possible conflict with India.

Indian officials have hinted of a military response against Pakistan for the Nov. 26 Mumbai attack by 10 gunmen that killed nearly 200 people and wounded about 300 others.