Pakistan on Wednesday warned the US against any unilateral military action against the Haqqani Network, as it again rejected the US demand for a military operation in North Waziristan Agency despite immense American pressure.
Responding to US media reports that suggested a clear ultimatum given to Pakistan for military operation in North Waziristan, Pakistan’s senior military and civilian officials said no ultimatum had been given to the country, but the US officials were making strong demands for an operation in North Waziristan to dismantle the influential militant group, the Haqqani Network, allegedly based in the tribal agency.
They said that without giving any ultimatum, the US officials had been saying that they could resort to an action of their own against the Haqqanis.
“The Obama administration has sharply warned Pakistan that it must cut ties with a leading Taliban group based in the tribal region along the Afghan border and help eliminate its leaders, according to officials from both countries,” leading US newspaper, The Washington Post, said in a report on Wednesday.“In what amounts to an ultimatum, administration officials have indicated that the United States will act unilaterally if Pakistan does not comply,” The Post said. It said, “The message, delivered in high-level meetings and public statements over the past several days, reflects the belief of a growing number of senior administration officials that a years-long strategy of using persuasion and military assistance to influence Pakistani behaviour has been ineffective.” US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday that “we are going to take whatever steps are necessary to protect our forces” in Afghanistan from attacks by the Haqqani network, which has had a long relationship with Pakistan’s intelligence service.
Admiral Mike Mullen, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who met Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani in Spain on Friday, told reporters that the “proxy connection” between Pakistani intelligence and the Haqqani network was the focus of those discussions. According to a Pakistani security official, new CIA Director David H Petraeus also raised the issue of North Waziristan operation with ISI chief Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, who is currently on an unannounced visit to the US. “ISI chief’s reply in response to demand for North Waziristan operation was that as of now this operation is not possible because of Pakistan’s constraints with its army engaged in several anti-terrorism operations in various tribal regions,” the official said. He said, “Pakistan has been telling the US that any operation in North Waziristan will be carried out when circumstances are favourable. The Pakistani Army is overstretched at the moment from South Waziristan up till Bajaur and Swat, and we don’t have the resources to open another major front,” the official said. An official at the Foreign Ministry said demands were being made for North Waziristan operation, but saying that any ultimatum had been given for the purpose by the US would be wrong. He rejected the impression given by the US media that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, in her recent meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York, made any commitment about action against the Haqqani Network.“The foreign minister spoke about Pakistan’s responsibility towards counter-terrorism operations and there was no specific mention of the Haqqani Network by her during the meeting with Clinton,” he said.
Why ISI chief Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, is currently on an unannounced visit to the US. These people will not learn that as you bend down, USA is going to make more demands. As for Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's visit to US, God knows what this in experiencded person might have committed on behalf of Pakistan.
BAREY MAZAQIA HUUUU ..BAREY MAZAQIA hu..:)
This is really not sensible. In spite of this, Pakistan seems to be ready to accept 2.9 million dollar US flood relief? How much flood relief loan did the Sunni-Salafi-Wahabbi majority nation on earth Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provide for Pakistani floods? How much help did the Haqqani network provide to the affected flood victims?
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If Pakistan truly doesn't want to be under USA's leash, it has to say "NO TO US FLOOD RELIEF". Then, automatically, USA will get the signal. As long as Pakistani administration, military continue to accept US aid (either military or flood-relief or any other type), USA will continue to think that Pakistan should do what US instructs.
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Stop taking US funds – stop taking US instructions. Simple, eh?
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MN
I think America using the same policy like British. Gradually she is bringing Pakistan as well as India under her own influence. We have the history of East India company. America only not dangerous for Pakistan but also for India. In this situations India should to give with Pakistan.
In view of the fact that Haqqani Network may not be the sole reason of humiliating defeat of the mightiest armies, it is beyond comprehension that USA is pressuring Pakistan into launching an attack on the so-called sanctuaries of the Network in NWA. This is particularly disturbing in view of the circumstantial evidence (ability of the Network to operate deep into Afghan capital) that the sanctuaries may have been relocated to somewhere in Afghanistan. Is this pressure a sincere effort to salvage Afghanistan situation for the US? For the sake of argument, if we concede that the Network is indeed hiding in NWA and Pakistan Army’s operation will weaken their ability to attack US interests in Afghanistan, will this give some sort of face saving to the retreating NATO forces? What should be the priority of Pakistan’s security establishment? To attack and eliminate the elements of TTP and al Qaeda attacking Pakistan or further thin out its resources to fight those who are a threat to NATO forces? This is where interests of Pakistan and USA do not converge and they will have to find a middle ground to come to an understanding. The circumstances point to the fact that the problem exists within Afghanistan and should be sorted out by NATO and Afghan National Army. The only way-forward to peace in Afghanistan is purely home-grown initiative keeping in view the demographic realities. Any proposal based on any other consideration will complicate the matters further and push Afghanistan into a never-ending chaos and anarchy. Read more at: http://pksecurity.blogspot.com/2011/09/haqqani-ne…
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