After weeks of a public spat between Pakistan and the United States over the Haqqani network, US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Tuesday said that Pakistan was increasing its nuclear arsenal, and while the situation in Pakistan was likely to remain volatile, links would not be severed, a private TV channel reported.
Panetta said that the US needed to maintain an enduring relationship with Afghanistan so that they could together fight against al Qaeda and continue to deny them safe havens.
In response to a question, Panetta said, “We cannot resolve issues of Afghanistan without solving issues of Pakistan,” adding that a stable and secure Pakistan was vital for a secure Afghanistan.
He said that diplomatic efforts were needed to continue to work with Pakistan, adding that the relationship with Pakistan was difficult, while the latter had cooperated in efforts against al Qaeda and continued to work with the US.
a modern Pakistan with 180 million people is way more important than a uncivilized cave dwelling Afghanistan with 25 million people.
I heard Bangladeshis' (previously East Pakistan) are saying similar things about Pakistan on the flip side when comparing with India. You probably know that Karzai agreed to that.
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