The U.S. ambassador to Islamabad said Saturday that the United States believes the Haqqani insurgent network is tied to the Pakistani government, a charge that could further raise tensions between Washington and Islamabad.
US officials earlier blamed the Haqqani network for the bombing of a US Combat Outpost in Afghanistan, as well as a 20-hour assault on the US Embassy in Kabul. But in an interview on Radio Pakistan that was broadcast Saturday, Ambassador Cameron Munter said “there is evidence linking the Haqqani network to the Pakistan government. This is something that must stop.”
When asked what evidence he had for this belief, Munter said, “Well, it’s just we believe that to be the case.”
The US and independent analysts have long expected such a link, which goes back to the 1980’s US funneling of money and weapons through Pakistan to the Afghan mujahadeen.
The Pakistani army has for years stopped short of attacking the Haqqani network’s sanctuary in North Waziristan, although it has been fighting militants elsewhere in the tribal region. This reluctance to attack is based on a perception of national interest for Pakistanis that the Haqqanis pose no threat to them and may in fact be useful to counter Indian influence in Afghanistan after American forces drawdown.
The secret US drone program is used to strike Pakistani territory unilaterally, but on Wednesday Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a veiled warning that hinted at a more open attack against Pakistan. Panetta and other Obama administration officials are seemingly resistant to the notion that drone attacks, and US policy towards Pakistan more broadly, are merely amplifying anti-American militancy.
Pakistan should stay neutral in the war. What would be the point of Pakistan supporting the Haqqani network when they also support NATO by allowing the supplies to pass through the country? Pakistan should stop supporting Haqqani and should also stop allowing NATO supplies to pass through. If the ambassador really has proof beyond people drinking mango juice then he should just present them and stop all aid to Pakistan.
Gee no taking the side of the US against those who support Al Qaeda.
Everyone knows there is no alQaeda. Bin Laden is already dead, why are we there?
Pakistan [insofar as "Pakistan" exists as it seems to be a loose collection of governmental and non-governemental of power centers with diverse interests that may or may not be aligned at any given instant in time] has clearly an interest in controlling Afghanistan, mainly because there is the fear that otherwise India will control it.
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers32%5Cpa…
Munter is another in a long line of 'loose cannons' that seem to be modus operandi for US StateDepartment. Actual and credible "evidence" for Munter's allegation? Munter says "evidence? We don't need no stinking evidence. We just believe that to be the case."
Haqqani Network may or may not be tied to the Pakistan government. Actual ties become irrelevant as, the State diplo-buffoons believe whatever in hell they believe. Flying in the face of, actual proof.
We should remember here that "they" hate us for our freedoms and not Amerikan utter arrogant stupidity.
“Obama administration… seemingly resistant to the notion that drone attacks… amplifying anti-American militancy.”
Our corrupt Empire uses drone assignations for the same purpose as dropping the A-bomb on Japan, not once before the war was over, but twice after the war had already been won. Terrorism on a grand scale, with Japan nuked to strike fear in the hearts of anti-US governments, whereas drones strike fear in the hearts of anti-US freedom fighters big and small.
Munter is just a mouthpiece for a corrupt and hubris govt. Just like I Iraq. We don't have actual evidence; we just believe Saddam has WMD and that is all that matters. Damn the truth.
The US is making enemies and inventing Boogie Men faster than they can drone them.
America is so hated in Pakistan that it may be inevitable that a covert war on Pakistan becomes a very overt war. Just as Bln Laden planned for.
America has so many enemies that once they all fight togeather witch will happen it will be America with very few allies against the world.The 2 3 4 and so on powers in the world.America is no longer the worlds super power they have no money.The sooner America and Israel and for that matter Britan loose there standing witch is deminishing fast the faster the peace will come.Hopfully China never acts like America did when they become the worlds super power.