Kashmir no excuse for Pakistan’s Haqqani ties: Senator
April 19th, 2012 - 11:44 am ICT by IANS
Washington, April 19 (IANS) Former US Republican presidential candidate John McCain has said the Kashmir dispute was not an excuse for Pakistan to not break ties with the Haqqani network, held responsible for recent coordinated attacks across Afghanistan
“Pakistan should not take refuge behind Kashmir conflict for not taking action against terrorist groups that operate almost openly in Pakistan,” he said speaking on the “Future of Afghanistan” at Carnegie Institute, a Washington think tank.
“I have sympathy for Pakistani military leadership, but disappointed at ISI’s continued cooperation with Haqqanis,” McCain said calling Pakistani spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence’s close relationship with the Haqqani network as “reprehensible.”
It remained a “source of never-ending frustration” that the ISI had a continuous relationship with the Haqqani network, when Pakistan army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is responsible for appointing the head of the ISI.
In response to a question on Kayani’s recent statement on India, the US senator said that while he appreciated it, the fact remains that the Pakistan Army’s best troops and equipment were on the border with India, and not Afghanistan.
McCain also criticised the Obama administration’s policy on reconciliation with the Taliban and its “fixation” on a 2014 deadline to withdraw all combat troops from Afghanistan. The Taliban has no incentive to make peace as long as they think that the US is leaving Afghanistan, he said suggesting the US should have a strategic partnership with Afghanistan.
It would “demonstrate to Pakistan that continued support for the Taliban will leave them more isolated and less secure,” he said.
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- ISI has ties with Haqqani network: US commander - Apr 21, 2011
- McCain points to Pakistan military, terror groups link - Aug 18, 2011
- ISI certainly has links with Taliban, but nature not clear yet: Petraeus - Jun 30, 2010
- Kayani warns US against anti-Pakistan offensive - Oct 19, 2011
- US must support India's Security Council bid: McCain (Lead) - Nov 06, 2010
- Kayani satisfied with army's preparedness - Oct 21, 2011
- You can't keep snakes in backyard, Clinton tells Pakistan - Oct 21, 2011
- US declines apology for NATO strikes; McCain blames ISI - Dec 02, 2011
- Pakistan cannot continue to be safe haven for terror: US - Sep 21, 2011
- Musharraf for rapprochement between ISI, RAW - Oct 27, 2011
- Unilateral incursion into Pakistan will be disastrous: daily - Oct 20, 2011
- Pakistan trying to sidestep US to safeguard own interests in Afghanistan: NYT - Apr 19, 2011
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