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Pakistan safe havens could jeopardise US strategy in Afghanistan: Report

Published: February 25, 2012

US cites the presence of militant safe havens in Pakistan as a reason for lack of success. PHOTO: AGENCIES

Suspected militant havens in Pakistan could jeopardise the US strategy in Afghanistan, secret cables exchanged between the US Ambassador in Kabul and his superiors in Washington revealed, the Washington Post reported on Friday.

According to the report, Ryan C. Crocker, the head of the US diplomatic mission in Afghanistan had sent a secret cable last month, through CIA contacts, instead of usual protocols, warning that the safe havens that insurgent fighters allegedly enjoyed in Pakistan, were failing years of US efforts to place curbs on the likes of the Haqqani network, and ultimately plans to hand over security responsibilities to an Afghan force.

US officials who were familiar with the contents of the cable told the Washington Post that with the US planning to cut its troops in Afghanistan by half to 68,000 in the summer, will have a hard time in dealing with militants who could recover and regroup across the border.

“The sanctuaries are a deal-killer for the [Afghan war] strategy,” a senior defense offical said.

Some officials familiar with the process pointed out the unusual medium of delivery. They suggested that by not sending the cable through the State department, as is the norm, meant it contained sensitive material.

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Reader Comments (15)

  • Feb 25, 2012 - 7:24AM

    What about safe havens of Taliban in Kunar, Nooristan and spread all over in the Afghanistan except the northern part??? US-NATO have failed to wipe/defeat them within the Afghanistan and yet they weep about the safe havens in Pak without showing a single evidence?? Secure the Border from your side Pak has deployed more 90,000 troops to secure the border and to stop infiltrations and ur forces are still not able to secure the border??? how could u reach to stability with such intentions, oh wait a minute ensuring peace and stability is not ur motive and goal, Its All about Oil , All about Natural resources, Name a single country where US invaded was not rich in minerals? Name a single country in which US have military bases are not rich in natural resources ?

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  • Abba Jee
    Feb 25, 2012 - 8:41AM

    US should destroy militant havens in Pakistan.

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  • Ali
    Feb 25, 2012 - 8:58AM

    Raise your hands if you knew such a report will come out. Especially after Clinton’s press conference yesterday.

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  • well-wisher
    Feb 25, 2012 - 9:43AM

    The safe havens existed from day one when American boots landed in Afghanistan with status quo maintained till date which was in full knowledge of US for more than a decade and surprisingly, the same was never pressed seriously before with the GOP/military. How does this wishful thinking at this belated stage going to convert defeat into victory??

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  • KK
    Feb 25, 2012 - 10:19AM

    USA invaded Afghanistan and then all these so-called militants fled the country to Pakistan. The logic is simple: if the US hadn’t invaded Afghanistan ruthlessly, all this mess would have been contained inside Afghanistan. They chose to pit themselves in Afghanistan and now Pakistan has to pay the price for all these Afghan militants

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  • Ismat
    Feb 25, 2012 - 11:11AM

    @Abba Jee:
    U R Joking?

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  • Roflcopter
    Feb 25, 2012 - 5:40PM

    So what they’re saying is that a few thousand poorly equipped militants allegedly hiding in Pakistan are successfully resisting 100,000+ strong and far superior NATO force (Not even adding the Afghan forces btw)? This is a laughable excuse.

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  • STRIVER
    Feb 25, 2012 - 5:43PM

    @Abba Jee:
    Abba Jee has a childish head on his old and sagging shoulders

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  • pun
    Feb 25, 2012 - 10:17PM

    @Pakistan politics:
    japan,south korea.

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  • Mj
    Feb 26, 2012 - 12:50AM

    @pun:
    & Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Kosovo, Singapore, Spain, Turkey.

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  • Feb 26, 2012 - 1:24AM

    @Mj:
    According to a news item published sometimes last year, the US had some sort of a bilateral military “arrangement” with 180 countries around the world! (I didn’t even know that so many countries even existed).

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  • Abba Jee
    Feb 26, 2012 - 6:56AM

    @Ismat: I am not joking…I fail to understand whether you and STRIVER are with Pakistan or with militants. If you are with militants, invite them to the comfort of your own homes.

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  • Sajida
    Feb 26, 2012 - 10:49AM

    Lies, damn lies, and the war in Afghanistan. Recommend

  • Just Curiuos
    Feb 26, 2012 - 11:38AM

    @KK
    You said
    USA invaded Afghanistan and then all these so-called militants fled the country to Pakistan. The logic is simple: if the US hadn’t invaded Afghanistan ruthlessly, all this mess would have been contained inside Afghanistan. They chose to pit themselves in Afghanistan and now Pakistan has to pay the price for all these Afghan militants

    Are you seriously implying that Pakistan does NOT have its own extremists groups, does NOT harbor international extremists, does NOT support its own extremists military camps or extremists madrassas??
    IF only the US hadn’t invaded Afghanistan ruthlessly, Pakistan would be a country without militants?
    You are seriously out of touch with reality.

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  • Feb 26, 2012 - 7:41PM

    I seriously doubt ET is serving Pakistan’s interest or reporting on for USA?

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