US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed Pakistan on Sunday to take action against Haqqani militants the United States blames for an attack on the US embassy in Kabul, officials said.
Clinton met in New York with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar for 3.5 hours of “very substantial” and “very candid” talks that began and ended with counter-terrorism, Clinton’s spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
A senior State Department official also told reporters on condition of anonymity that the talks began and ended with concerns about the Taliban-allied Haqqani network Washington suspects receives Pakistani government support. Meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Khar made clear to Clinton that Pakistan “couldn’t condemn more” the attack, adding “that this kind of terrorism was a threat to Pakistan” as well, the official said.
“We were specific about the need for Pakistan to take action on the Haqqani network.” The Pakistanis “understand the threat the Haqqanis pose to them”, and that “it is time” for them to take action, he said when asked about the Pakistani reaction,” according to the senior US official. Cameron Munter, the US ambassador in Islamabad, bluntly cited evidence on Saturday linking the Pakistani government to the Haqqani network of militants, blaming the group for the Kabul siege. But the US official said the “evidence” was not raised in Clinton’s talks with Khar. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that the United States would retaliate against Pakistan-based insurgents. A Pakistani official told Pakistan Today in Islamabad that there was deep resentment in the government circles over the recent harsh statements by US officials. He said, “Strangely, the Americans blame us even for acts of sabotage taking place inside Afghanistan. Someone should ask these US officials what they are doing on that side of the border. Why are they not targeting terrorists who carry out attacks deep inside Afghanistan, in areas such as Kabul.”
US again presses Pakistan on Haqqanis
