The official was voicing Washington's frustrations with Pakistan and its failure to tackle safe havens in its territory that militant groups such as the Haqqani network use to launch attacks against NATO forces in Afghanistan.
The official specifically referred to an attack in September on an American base in Wardak province that wounded 77 American troops and a 20-hour siege of the US embassy in Kabul that killed nine.
"A spectacular raid or a set of spectacular mis-steps, which are possible, could take the relationship much more in a direction that would be detrimental for both countries," the official said from Islamabad, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the relationship.
Both attacks were blamed on the Haqqanis. The former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral, Mike Mullen, has said the Haqqanis are a "veritable arm" of Islamabad's top spy agency, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The Haqqani network is a militant group allied with the Taliban that was started by Jalaluddin Haqqani, who rose to prominence in the 1980s receiving weapons and funds from the CIA and Saudi Arabia to fight Soviet forces in Afghanistan.
(Read: The Taliban & the Haqqanis)
Although considered to be a part of the larger Taliban umbrella organization headed by Mullah Omar and his Quetta Shura Taliban, the Haqqanis maintain their own command and control, and lines of operation.
"You need to encircle them, not let them have free travel, prevent them from trying to get into Afghanistan," the US official said.
"Cut them off from funding. Cut them off from information. And let them know that there will be a price to be paid from both the Americans and the Pakistanis if you do what you did at the embassy in Kabul, or in Wardak."
The official said she was not expecting a Pakistani military offensive against the Haqqanis.
Mullen's allegation outraged the Pakistanis, but they later said they do maintain contacts with the Haqqanis -- as do many spy agencies -- but do not support them.
"We have never paid a penny or provided even a single bullet to the Haqqani network," ISI chief Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha told Reuters days after the attacks.
The Pakistanis are equally frustrated with the United States. Pakistani officials often complain that Washington woos Islamabad only when it needs something and that it does not care about Pakistan's other problems, such as its staggering economy, lack of development and disputes with India.
In a two-day visit to Islamabad in October, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Pakistan needed to "squeeze" the Haqqanis in a bid to limit their ability to attack NATO troops and bring them to the negotiating table.
COMMENTS (18)
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@F Robinson: This is secondary matter i.e. Pakistan not curbing the Haqanni Network. Can I ask you what is US doing in Afghanistan anyway? This is a matter of urgency that the US and it's cronies should leave the land of Afghanistan which is illegally and immorally occupied by the New Imperialist US and other Western powers. If the US gives aid to Pakistan; they don't give it for free. Pakistan has sacrificed lives 10 times more than the US for it's phony "War of Terrorism". This is what US did to save its face in Vietnam; blamed Combodia and then bombarded it. Americans and it's cronies are always right and full of wisdom whilst others are two faced. Pakistan may be a two faced country but believe you me the US and it's cronies have more than two faces. Open up your eyes and analyse matters in depth. People of Europe and American are awaking up and knowing what ugly games their countries are playing in rest of the world.
Phew! So, there will be no damage to the relationship if the attacks are "minor." Mr. Haqqani. p;ease take note. A few casualties Americans can live with. But 77 at one go and a "spectacular" attack are not acceptable. 200 casualties in Beirut made them cut and run.They are very brave people. Don't you know?
The glass is half empty, isn't it?
I mean we are therefore waiting for another attack. Mark my words, it will come. It will come at such an opportune time that no action can be taken. Pakistan is a master of this art. The US policy of AF-Pak is based on wishful thinking. The outraging of the american pride is being responded with poems and similar literary creations. The mighty USA scrambles for a MEASURED response after each attack from a country that lives on USAID. Mighty crazy tale indeed. Kind of funny as well.
Americans should set up more border posts on the Afghan border.
We rather be neutral than being bullied by arrogant "teenagers". If history is taken into notice, We prospered much better when we were sanctioned by Mama america in the 90's .
I sense something very fishy here! Is that an excuse to starting rounding up Pakistan in case Iran is attacked by Israel and, possibly, NATO. Believe it or not, our nukes can satisfactorily be labelled as anti- Israel through western media and their on going propaganda about their vulnerability to TTP LOL!
Yes america you should continue your killing....soon you will run out of anyone to kill.
Despite our generous US aid Pakistan always plays a duplicitous role in everything. In Pakistan Truth has a variety of meanings - remember Pakistani fake WikiLeaks. If Pakistan is to fix the mess it should re-examine its policy of supporting “State sponsored hate and terror programs”.
Not a Pakistani problem!
If someone was shooting at you from your neighbors yard and the neighbor did nothing about it -- I think most people would say that would not be good for relations. That about sum it up?
I see ! So Wardak (right next door to Kabul) isn't secure and the siege in Kabul (which evidently is secure) lasted for 20 hours....O senior US official, with such impeccable performance on your part I'm not sure that the Haqqanis are really coming back to ' Safe Havens ' in Pakistan.
This only brings pressure upon themselves.
“A spectacular raid or a set of spectacular mis-steps, which are possible, could take the relationship much more in a direction that would be detrimental for both countries,” So non spectacular raids are ok?:)
Hope Pakistani establishment DO NOT have same opinion as most of the comments here from sympathizers, Taking this ever incrasing AMERICAN THREAT in a ligher note will have SERIOUS consequence for Pakistan in near future ,BRAVADO in certain limits is ok. But this is going way above RED LINE. you need physical Kicks that bring dreamwalkers back upto Reality,
That's a subtle way of suggesting that Pakistan do something about the safe havens or they will.
Another major attack on American interests in Afghanistan by Pakistan-based militant groups would greatly damage the alliance with Islamabad, a senior US official said
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. USA is doing that with Pakistan army!!
Hilary clinton had told that US policy on Pakistan for past few decades was confused. She is no less confused, fighting a war with Pakistan, while simultaneously funding it!
If USA expects Pakistan army to not do what its been doing for past decade, then it is 'insane' indeed.!!
Does the American official understand the meaning of safe havens? If yes then the answer is obvious. If Pakistani army/ISI were not favoring the Haqqanis it would not be called safe havens, would it? The US wants "hammer and anvil" from both sides to crush the terrorists but the terrorists have their powerful friends.