WASHINGTON – US officials pressed Pakistan yesterday to sever ties with the Haqqani militant network, renewing charges that Islamabads spy agency supported the Taliban-affiliated group in attacks on American targets.
Brushing aside denials from Islamabad, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the Haqqani network, which operates from safe havens in Pakistan, was responsible for the recent assault on the US embassy in Kabul as well as other attacks that had killed American troops.
“It is critical that the government of Pakistan break any links they have and take strong and immediate action against this network so that they are no longer a threat to the United States or to the people of Pakistan, because this network is a threat to both,” Mr Carney said.
His remarks came a day after Admiral Mike Mullen, the top US military officer, said in Senate testimony that the attack on the embassy in Kabul was carried out by the Haqqanis with support from Pakistan’s ISI military intelligence agency. – (Reuters)