Gates: U.S. Must Work With Pakistan

CNN reports:

The nation's top military man warned Wednesday that the United States must continue to work with Pakistan as a partner despite years of mistrust.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen did not directly refer to the latest point of tension between the countries: Pakistani authorities' arrests of people who provided assistance and information before the successful raid on the Osama bin Laden compound and the killing of the al Qaeda leader.

However, Mullen said Pakistan remains crucial to U.S. strategy.

"We must continue to pursue a partnership with Pakistan," Mullen told the Senate Appropriation panel's defense subcommittee. "The alternative -- drifting toward a more contentious or fractured relationship -- is far more detrimental to U.S. interests in strategically defeating al Qaeda and ensuring nuclear weapons do not fall into terrorists' possession."