WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has been put under investigation for alleged "inappropriate" communications with a woman involved in the scandal that forced out CIA Director David Petraeus.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday that he has directed the inspector general of the department to open an investigation of General John Allen after the FBI referred a matter involving him to the Pentagon on Sunday.
Allen will remain commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) while the case is under investigation, said Panetta, adding that the case should also be notified to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
Allen became the ISAF commander and commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan in July 2011. His nomination to be the next commander of U.S. European Command and the commander of NATO forces in Europe is put on hold until relevant facts are determined.
Panetta has also asked the ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to delay the scheduled confirmation hearing on Allen's pending nomination.
"Obviously, it was a very sad situation, to have a distinguished career like that end in this manner," said Panetta on Monday en route to Perth, Australia, referring to the resignation of Petraeus.
ABC news quoted a senior defense official as saying that the FBI has uncovered thousands of alleged "potential inappropriate" emails between Allen and Jill Kelly, a central figure in Petraeus' scandal.
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