US envoy links Haqqani militants to Pakistan government

There is evidence linking the Haqqani militant network to Pakistan's government, the US ambassador to Pakistan has said in a radio interview.

"This is something that must stop," Cameron Munter told Radio Pakistan, when discussing Tuesday's militant assault on the Afghan capital, Kabul.

At least 25 died during a 20-hour-long attack blamed on the Haqqani group, who are believed to be based in Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities have consistently denied links with militant groups.

The Haqqani network, which is closely allied to the Taliban, has been blamed for several high-profile attacks against Western, Indian and government targets in Afghanistan.

It is often described by Pakistani officials as a predominantly Afghan group, but correspondents say its roots reach deep inside Pakistani territory, and speculation over its links to Pakistan's security establishment refuse to die down.

"The attack that took place in Kabul a few days ago that was the work of the Haqqani network, and the fact that, as we have said in the past, that there are problems, there is evidence linking the Haqqani network to the Pakistan government, this is something that must stop," Mr Munter said in the interview.

Although US officials have long harboured suspicions about the alleged links, they rarely make such public and direct statements.

In July the top officer in the US military, Adm Mike Mullen, said the Pakistani government "sanctioned" the killing of investigative journalist Saleem Shahzad. The Pakistani government called that statement "irresponsible".

Analysts say that US officials have long been frustrated at what they perceive to be Pakistani inaction against the Haqqani network, thought to based in Pakistan's tribal areas.

Last week, Washington said it could target the Haqqani network on Pakistani soil if the authorities there failed to take action against the militants.

Ties between the uneasy allies deteriorated sharply after the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden on Pakistani soil by US commandos in May.

US drone strikes targeting militants in the tribal areas and the controversy over the release of Raymond Davis, the CIA contractor who killed two Pakistani men in Lahore, had already strained ties.

Mr Munter acknowledged that relations had been "tough" and went on to say that it was time for the two countries to work together to defeat the militants.

"From our side we think that fighting them together is the best way to do it," he said.
Haqqani interview

But Sirajuddin Haqqani, the son of the leader of the network, has told the Reuters news agency that the group no longer has sanctuaries on Pakistani soil because it felt secure inside Afghanistan.

"Gone are the days when we were hiding in the mountains along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Now we consider ourselves more secure in Afghanistan besides the Afghan people," he said.

He also said that the group would take part in peace talks with Kabul and the US if the Taliban endorsed such talks as well.

Previously the group has rejected such overtures, the agency reported.

But he declined to comment on Tuesday's attack on Kabul saying that he had been instructed by senior leaders not to say anything if Western interests were attacked.

"For some reasons, I would not like to claim that fighters of our group had carried out the recent attack on US embassy and Nato headquarters," he said.

Reuters said they spoke to Sirajuddin Haqqani by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Analysts say US concern about the capabilities of the Haqqani network is particularly acute as Nato begins withdrawing troops from Afghanistan source

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I wonder if Pakistan plans to keep playing both sides of the terrorism game. Sound like the US is ready to act on the firm belief that Pakistan supports terrorism. Getting Bin Laden, and the trove of documents and data that we did, sure seems to make the US a lot more confident in calling out the Pakistanis for their terrorist links.

 

What else US can expect--it lost war in Vietnam and now it again lost in Afghanistan. Don't know when US will learn from its past mistakes, or perhaps they'll never learn and perish one day just like all other Super Powers from ancient times.

 

The only losers will be Afghans and Pakistanis, and of course I doubt Indian is too fond of the Pakistani government's little terrorist toy. We killed our target. Time to get the fuck out.

 

...and cut the aid.

 

watch Tom Hanks movie Charlie Wilson's War IMDB info

See how they f***ed up after the withdrawal of soviet troops by cutting aid to Pakistan and Afghans, and if they repeat that same mistake again they'll pay it with their blood, again.

India has no business in Afghanistan as it doesn't share a border with Afghanistan. India only wants to create problems for Pakistan in the province of Balochistan, but when Pakistani agencies start bombing Indian cities just like they did back in 80's and 90's then India will stop from doing what it's currently engaged in Afghanistan.

US is playing both India and Pakistan against each other, and both of these countries should open their eyes now.

 

Pay with blood if Pakistan doesn't get money? A good policy to follow is never pay an extortionist. When we cut off aid to Pakistan and pull out of Afghanistan, you guys will be China's problem to deal with. I'm sure they will treat you with kit gloves.

 

Actually Pakistan will always be a problem for US, and not for China as China too has problems with US and India, and when US will pull out as a loser of this war, Pakistan will take over Afghanistan through its supporters and ISI, just like it did take over Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Soviet troops till 2002.

US will always pay with blood not for money but for its foreign policy and greed for being a Super Power forever but history teaches and shows us that it's never been possible for any super power to remain a super power forever.

What goes up must come down one day.

and history is full of such super powers, just pick a history book from your local library and see if this is true or not.

 

Ah, the extortion policy, the blackmail..

I'd say, Good Luck..

[video=youtube;1z6o1GIEsQE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z6o1GIEsQE[/video]

India has a booming trillion dollar economy. We are just fine mate, We don't need American aid to actually afford a military, thanks for caring though.

But I think you should really worry about your 174 billion GDP rather than Afghanistan and bombing of Indian cities..
Your per capita GDP is quarter of what I earn in a month..

 

Well the booming trillion dollar economy can come down in just matter of minutes, and your government knows that very well, and that's why they are afraid of what will happen after the withdrawal of US.

And by the way how your booming trillion dollar economy helping these 77% poor people of India??



Or is that booming economy just an illusion that can be blown away with just one bomb at any one of a Bangalore call center??

I think we are being carried away from the main topic of this thread, so instead of bashing each other, and playing in the hands of US, we should stick to the main topic here.

 

Lol.. who can stop anyone from daydreaming?

By providing them food and education to children, so there can be a brighter future for them..

Now that's golden.. I don't even need to say anything.. Your own posts say a lot about Pakistan..
How many of Pakistanis, do you estimate, share your opinions?

Actually, you are bang on topic.. You are doing a perfect job, nothing is justifying the OP more than your own thoughts.. Keep posting mate, keep'em coming..

 

Trillion dollar economy...yet so many poor people and terrible conditions..shame.

 

At least they are trying to work on it and not just blaming the boogie man, Israel, or the West for all their problems. I have a lot of respect for how India is trying to lift their country and also maintaining democracy.

 

And so spoken IsraeI.
You did not tell me mate, how can you sleep in nights knowing that American planes will take off the next morning, from your own country, to drop a bomb on your brothers ?? How, tell me how?????



PS: Only if India had petro money flowing in like Qatar or American aid like Egypt and Pakistan get for being a 'good' kid..

 

Problems with the US? Hell, they are financing our bailout. If/when we pull the plug on Pakistani aid, all $3 Billion a year of it, your nuclear power government will destabilize and immediately look to take wealth from it's neighbors. Neighbors like China, India, and Afghanistan. Any way you go, China won't like it. Any way you go, you will also get your asses collectively kicked and be thrown even further into poverty.

This is very true. One day, the US will no longer be the world's sole super power. The humorous part is thinking Pakistan will somehow benefit from it. It is a bit like saying, "One day, Bill Gates will die, and then I will really flourish". Two facts you should probably get through your head. The US isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and if Kim Kardashian dies in a car accident, it won't help you win any beauty contests. Beauty may only be skin deep, but ugly goes all the way to the bone.

Wow. Talk about direct support for terrorism. I reported this quote, of course, but as Webby pointed out, what a wonderful representation of your people you make. To think you probably call yourself a Muslim makes me ill.

 

I am really confused why since year long, all countries are trying to set some connection of Pakistan with militant groups?? You need to know that the authorities running Pakistan are also terrorists.. Even they say we are not linked to terrorists but we are the terrorists.. Even they feel bad when you don't say them terrorists directly LOL

Its time when all countries should unite, specially India, US, France, UK and other major ones and finish Pakistan completely.. Even they don't have anything today so its better to dump the crushed part

this will even free up everything for US as they won't need to pay anything to Pakistan for invading to Afghanistan

 

Why you care so much for what economy we have? Better look over your worst country condition..

And if you think US is playing in manner to make India fight Pakistan or vice-versa(which certainly is impossible .. LOL) .. then what about 1947 when India kicked away Pakistan from its territory?? It wasn't US then, right??

Better to keep empty head in hidden box as it can be even more dangerous than nuclear bombs

Offcourse this a country which even don't know whether a extremist and most wanted terrorist is living near their military regions .. hahah haha haha .. now i can really fell down from my chair ..

Is this is what you want to defend for??

 

We are at least trying and growing as a solid economy.
Look, Its not easy to handle the population of 1.21 billion, specially when there are so many different cultures and languages. Still we are growing and at least we are not dependent on other countries like Pakistan. We have our own internal issues, but hey, every country have their internal issues.

 

You can't get rid of your own enemies ? Why appeal to the rest of the world to do your dirty work?

 

haah! I am sure others but wasn't sure of you, that you don't find them as dirt. A clear support comes out to extremists ... What do you call them brother or another avatar of GOD?? LOL

 

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