US Senator Mark Kirk on Monday said the Haqqani network was operating with the help of the ISI. Kirk, who sits on the Senate subcommittee responsible for international aid, argued that military assistance to Pakistan should be eliminated. Kirk said that aid should be tied to concrete steps by the Pakistani government, including allowing American strikes within the country. He also suggested turning over Afghanistan’s responsibility to India.
“India has a strong interest in an Afghanistan that is not a terror base,” Kirk said. Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake said there was a need to enhance ties with Pakistan and help its people who were facing political, economic and security problems.
Talking to VOA, he said that it was important to move forward and work together. “We need to help people and government of Pakistan in resolving their political, economic and security problems and in fact it is the time to focus on these issues,” he said. He said Pakistan’s role in the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan was important and Washington wanted Pakistan on their side in the future strategy as it was a valuable ally.