Pakistan government linked to militants: US

There is evidence linking the Pakistani government with the Taliban-allied Haqqani network of militants, the US ambassador in Islamabad said, blaming the group for last week’s siege in Kabul.
In blunt comments broadcast by Radio Pakistan on Saturday, ambassador Cameron Munter said: “Let me tell you that the attack that took place in Kabul a few days ago, that was the work of the Haqqani network.
“There is evidence linking the Haqqani network to the Pakistan government. This is something that must stop,” Munter said.
His remarks follow a warning by US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who said after the Kabul attack — in which rebels fired rockets at the US embassy and NATO headquarters, leaving 15 dead — that the US would retaliate against Pakistan-based insurgents.
When asked to provide evidence of the link with the Pakistani government, Munter said “we believe that to be the case”.
Acknowledging that the past year had been “tough”, he urged joint action against terrorism and said that the United States and Pakistan were “fundamentally on the same side”.
There was no immediate reaction from Islamabad to the allegations but the government has strenuously denied any links to militant groups.
“The key here is that this is going to take a real effort to work together, to identify who the enemy is,” Munter said.
Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the network, and his son Sirajuddin, who now runs the group, have both been designated “global terrorists” by US.
US officials have accused Pakistani intelligence of playing a double game with extremists, including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
On the other hand, thousands of Pakistani troops have lost their lives fighting insurgents and government is focused on combating militants.