US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta warned Pakistan on Thursday that Washington was losing patience over Islamabad’s failure to eliminate safe havens for insurgents who attacked US troops in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Panetta lashed out at Pakistan and the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network during a brief visit to Kabul overshadowed by fury over a NATO air strike that allegedly killed 18 civilians, an issue that the Pentagon chief did not address in public.
Panetta left Kabul less than five hours after his arrival, as Afghan President Hamid Karzai pledged to cut short a trip to Beijing and head home over the deaths of around 40 civilians Wednesday in the air strike and a suicide bombing.
Panetta’s trip to Kabul to assess the state of the war and plans to withdraw US combat troops by the end of 2014 coincided with an increase in violence. “Even though we are seeing an uptick in violence in recent days, the overall level of violence is down from past years,” he said. “It’s an increasing concern that this safe haven exists and that there are those like the Haqqanis who are making use of that to attack our forces,” Panetta told a news conference with his Afghan counterpart, Abdul Rahim Wardak.
“We are reaching the limits of our patience here,” he said. “For that reason, it’s extremely important that Pakistan take action to prevent this kind of safe haven,” he said. “We have made that very clear time and time again and we will continue to do that. But as I said, we are reaching the limits of our patience,” he added.
The Afghan and US governments have suggested the war in Afghanistan cannot be won without safe havens in Pakistan being dismantled.
Analysts say Islamabad allows the Haqqanis to operate to hedge against any influence by their arch-foe India in Afghanistan, while critics in Pakistan accuse the Americans of deflecting blame for the increasingly deadly war.
The Pentagon chief blamed an attack last week on Forward Operating Base Salerno, in eastern Afghanistan, on the Haqqani network. The United States leads 130,000 NATO troops fighting the Taliban insurgency and is planning to withdraw the bulk of combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, and hand responsibility for security to the Afghans.
But civilian casualties caused by US and NATO air strikes have been a frequent source of tension between Karzai and the United States.
The Afghan president, who was attending a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Beijing, issued a stinging rebuke of NATO’s latest air strike.
“Attacks by NATO that cause life and property losses to civilians under no circumstances could be justified and are not acceptable,” Karzai said of the incident on Wednesday in Logar province, south of Kabul.
/And we are reaching end of patience with you backstabbing so called friends – let me ask you, how many of the hijackers on 9-11 were Pakisitanis? Answer – ZERO – fifteen Saudis and 4 Egyptians! And we are paying the price in blood and money since then because of our sold "leaders" – why dont you throw drone bombs on Saudi and Egypt – ooooo- they have OIL and tourism dollars!! LMAO. You all are such a joke. Pakistan faces 9/11 every day costing us over 40,000 lives and over $70B in economic losses. And you cant even say sorry for murdering 24 of our soldiers protecting YOUR TROOPS??? Who are ya kiddin man??? J*&k Off!
Good Joke…..Pakistan is fountainhead of terrorism… after 9/11 each and every terror attack had Pakistan footprint… 7/11 in London all Pakistanis…26/11 all Pakistanis….sHow many Pakistanis have been actaully convicted, not charged , in the court of laws in foregn countires ??? any idea ?/? … anyone who want to become terrorist …heads towards Paksitan for training…it is natural destination…
You are all either terrorists and sympathizers of terrorism thats why you have 9/11 everyday…as they are right there…attacks with outside help will be at least months if not years apart…but when you have home grown terrorists they will play everyday..YOu did not join war on terror out of goodwill.. you joined as you wanted to escape punishment and get rewards…it is not a favour to mankind…you deserve what you getting…killings, humiliation and lack of trust in you.. and stop blaming your leaders…they are one of you…
You are a joke mr indian troll. First of all, its not 7/11, its 7/7. 7/11 is where you guys work – lols. Second, both 7/7 and 26/11 were the repercussions of increasing extremism in Pak youth AFTER 9/11 when their families, including women and children were blown to bits by drones and continuing, Again had nothing to do with 9/11/ Mr propaganda troll. All the al-qaeda leadership ran into Pak from Afghanistan where you folks have 40 consulates and embassies and can't do nothing about it. But we are still paying yet again for fighting an American so called "war on terror" in blood and money. Take care of your RSS and Shiv Sena – we will take care of our extremists. Cheers.
Paneta keep your pateince in control and it is advised to visit Germany to consult the doctor there and go on long leave.
pakistan is not your colony to go on your directions.afterall you are the so-called champion of democracy,but be pateince as there are more super powers in the world.First you improve yourself to become a true and sincere freind and do not cheat them.do ot become opportunist and be faithful.
Mr Panetta your empy threats will do nothing nor will we listen to your dictates anymore your country is a joke and you are the worst friend any country could have so shut up and put te money where your mouth is Mr Panetta
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"Pakistan is not capable of defeating the Haqqanis"?
It's only a matter of time that US will take direct action on Haqqanis. The big and mighty khakis of Pakistan can watch …
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mighty US is not capable of defeating Taliban in Afghanistan? and scapegoating Pakistan for their failure in Afghanistan. Pakistan has defeated Taliban in Swat, and many FATA areas of Pakistan. It will be Pakistan own decision when and how to take action against Haqqanis who are not threat to Pakistan.
They r already 10 yrs ago have occupied Afghanistan and have forced Taliban to live in caves from where they launch sporadic guerrilla attacka killing their own people. You perfectlt know how to fool yourself.
They did not come to beat Taleban…they are here to stay.. they can wipe both Pakistan and Afganistan off the map in matter of hours…but there motives are different..
Pakistan is a failed state…and Pakistan army has lost each and everywar it fought…thats why it now doesn't fight openly..
nearly 50,000 killed in last few years and everything continue ..
"Pakistan is not capable of defeating the Haqqanis"?
What do we talk about big and mighty PA? 'Nutcrackers'?
All false bravado expressed above. Name a single war won against India, what to speak of possibility of any war against USA. Even, our friend China teaching us to behave with USA as it is not in interest of Pakistan's security as well as regional security, but our mullah-military-media alliance is hell-bent to destroy Pakistan thru their misconceived nuclear power.Gus above, it is futile to express hypocritically exhibitionist chauvinism. Pakistan needs noone to destroy itself, except its own establishment, bureaucracy, mullahs and rightist media. Our Punjabi middle class mindset is best at making fool of itself. Remember 1971
1971 definitely was a lost war on political stage well before even it was started borders fuelled by enemy next door! go and read neutral texts about 1965 though!
and when enemy attacks, they will not see if you are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, or a Baloch, they will bomb all Pakistanis. So come out of shell and be Pakistani before anything else!
@truth bites What you say about occupation of 15000SquKM of territory on WestPakistan front in 1971? Whose political drama it was!Yahya, the general and CMLA and his generals had all the powers(whatever) in their hands. In 1965 Pakistan occupied wastelands of Rajisthan, and had lost territory on Lahore and Sialkot fronts. Read neutral texts man, perhapes you forget after reading. When Punjabi establishment will try to monopolize, who will stop Indians?The same happened in 1971. AyubKhan overthrew civilian govt in 1958 before elections so as to stop majority Bengalies winning elections and forming govt in the center.
Some Pakistanis seem to like committing suicide. With Balochistan up in arms against federal govt and Sindh alienated and brimmed with suspicions and hate against monopolizing tendencies by establishment dominated by one province and policy-making also dominated by establishment dominated by one province and ever-increasing bias of Lahore-centered media against any political leadership belonging to minority provinces, KP under constant hostage to extremists, and bomb blasts, Pakistani establishment seeks to open fron with a World Superpower, ignoring advice of its friend China as well. Is it not an attempt at committing suicide? I am critical patriot and cant see powerful section of this nation taking us to a disaster. Pakistani establishment has lost touch with reality after making a few atomic bombs, which might not explode during war with USA, if ever it happens.
Rameez is right, the anti-USA or anti-world rhetoric has no meaning because the people dont need to face the consequences of this political game. People of Pakistan didnt get anything from the war on terror and they are not going to get anything from alienating the US and the whole world as well. Ultimately its the people who suffer and not the political entities who polarize the emotionally charged people in this country. Peaceful solutions are the only means to get out of the tricky situation.
resistance is futile,,,
Soooo many comments made by young,immature,rebel want to be,Pakistani citizens.
Please keep resisting Pakistan,Keep resisting with your narrow,single minded,one way crumbling fake spirit..Please keep telling us just how much we are the Devil and you are the voices of reason.Tell us how mighty yo can be and how the entire western hemisphere will be destroyed by your mighty perfect (in every ways) civilization
Please be like the awesome in-penetrable Republican Guard of Irak or the ww2 Nazi's, We beg you to maintain friendly relations with rebel terrorist in the name of HALLAH or WHAT EVER GOD'S you believe in..
You ragheads whant it ??
You will get it !!
We won't bomb you guy's,because that is what you want,nop we will choke your economy,isolate you at the United Nations,making alliances with your so-called friends,and when nothing,not a single soul,product,would be able to get in or out of your ohh Mighty city's,and you will have no more resources other than your cows or goats or (what ever animals you retarded,primitive,minimalist people are in adulation with)
Then,,just then,you will have to face a coalition of about 40 to 50 nations at your doorsteps and they will re-arrange your curry buffet from an altitude that non of you ever thought possible of.
So there you go,,get rid of a few criminals on your own and get with the program or,,be All you can be and face the entire planet,the choice is yours be be careful your so called friends will never go against the wave,they are to smart for that,THEY CAN SEE THE BIG PICTURE. .(a concept you wouldn't or couldn't understand anyway)
Personally I would love to see a warlord free Pakistan,a proud and modern unified Pakistan empire,peaceful and free with rules and regulations but right now I only have 2 words for you,,,BAR SOAP,,clean up your act,clean up your streets,take showers,EVERYDAY,,and join us or be brave and forgotten
A westerner like many others
Enter text right here!
Come on,,I'm still waiting for a young and brave mullahh to respond and confront me under a fake name ,,and/or anonymously on top of that..
Just like the criminals you are harboring OHHH MIGHTY Pakistan..
Anyone brave enough ?
come on one on one and bring your logic to the table like a real man ,, or bring your kirpan,well sharpened, i couldn't care less!!!!
I'm telling you guy's ,,you will cleanup your messy act or else…
Stefan Dufrene
Montreal
Canada
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They said they are going to bring AQ Khan out.
(please look scared) …
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daily round of slaps on world stage for pakis….
"Listen to the voices inside your head. Listen to them impartially. Listen to them as often as you can. Do not judge or condemn what you hear, doing so would mean that the same voices have come through the back door". Be the silent observer of your mind. Human mind has become destructive and insane. Without self observation give another 100 years or so and human civilization becomes extinct. Forgiveness and compassion for another human being arise out of that awareness. Let the whole world be your family and peace your religion.
america has trained 1000s of afghans to attack pakistan and they want the strong pashtoons living there to be diminished………they are killing our nation at the frontier…..only women and children are dying and very few men…..
You are honest but victim of misinformation and propaganda.
Things wouldn't have come to this end if Pakistan didn't decided to use Afghanistan for 'strategic depth' …
Pakistan ran out of patience with US a long time ago you buffoon – Leon Panetta. You are an idiot and an utterly stupid man. You and your generals are somewhat unsuccessfully trying to blame Pakistan for your incompetence and failure in Afghanistan.
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