Mullen blames Pakistan for Shahzad killing

WASHINGTON, July 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen said Thursday the Pakistani government "sanctioned" the killing of a journalist who investigated government links to Islamic militants.

Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in Washington the May kidnapping, torture and slaying of Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, 41, "was sanctioned by the government," National Journal reported.

"I have not seen anything to disabuse that the government knew about it," Mullen said.

Shahzad, who worked for the Asia Times Online and Italian news agency Adnkronos International, disappeared shortly after he wrote an article claiming a militant attack in May on the Pakistani navy's base in Karachi was in retaliation for the navy's attempt to crack down on al-Qaida infiltrators.

The U.S. government immediately condemned Shahzad's killing.