WASHINGTON: Following an 18-hour long attack on Afghan capital Kabul, the US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey declared that the US does not have any intelligence yet on whether the deadly weekend attack was planned in Pakistan.
Addressing reporters at the Pentagon during a press conference with the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Monday, CJCS General Dempsey revealed that the 36 attackers who terrorised Kabul were linked to the infamous Haqqani networks, a group of battle hardened militants spread on both sides of the Durand line, were involved, but declined to comment on whether the attack was planned in Pakistan.
In response to a question, Secretary Panetta said that there was no question that the Haqqanis were based in Pakistan, however. “They have also moved across the border and operate in enclaves in Afghanistan. There is a concern that they continue to find safe haven in Pakistan. We have made clear to the Pakistanis that this is not tolerable,” said the Secretary of Defense, without committing to whether Haqqanis planned the Kabul attack while on Pakistani soil.
Speaking at the press conference, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that they had intelligence that indicates that the Haqqani networks were behind the attacks that took place in Kabul over the weekend. “We had received a great deal of intelligence that the Haqqanis were planning these kind of attacks,” he said. The former CIA head said that the attacks reflect Taliban are resilient, and this was the beginning of their spring offensive. However, he added that they believed that with the Afghan Army, the US would be able to combat these attacks.
In response to a question, Secretary Panetta said that they would continue to see efforts by the Taliban to undermine confidence in Afghanistan, but it “hasn’t worked in the past, won’t work in the present,” he said. The US Secretary of Defense added that it was clear to everyone including the Afghan people that the US was headed in the right direction.
Earlier on Monday, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton had also called Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to discuss the weekend’s events and of taking Pakistan-US ties further.
COMMENTS (26)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1713525343-0/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-19-at-4-09-16-PM-(1)1713525343-0-270x192.webp)
1713525453-0/Henry-Cavill-in-James-Bond-(AI)1713525453-0-270x192.webp)
Indirectly blaming Pakistan,under a particular police,
being forced to take action against those,have religious parties inside the country..
United States is heading right direction, it is wrong absolutely wrong,United States always heads in view of its particular interests.
They will find the evidence as soon as NATO supplies resume, for now they are playing it safe.
@Roflcopter: They had intelligence prior to the abbotabad raid and solid intelligence at that.
The operative word is "yet". Give it enough time and the link will inevitably surface. Nearly every terrorist incident in the region has the footprint of the establishment unfortunately.
Sorry to have touched the raw nerve. I have not stated at all that Paksitan was involved in any shape or form. But if the shoe fits wear it! Like the presence of OBL in Abbottabad Base the truth would ultimately be found. Let us hope that Pakistan or our terrority was not involved in any of these attacks.
Well, give a few days, evidence against Pakistan will surface.
These days all terrorist attacks have linkage to Pakistan.
In fact many have links to ISI, like Haqqani network.
We will see what unfolds in the next few days.
Even if it was planned in Pakistan, that does not mean PAKISTAN planned it... A few terrorists actions does not represent an entire country.. This guy needs to be put in a nursing home.
@Mirza: Why do you always make wild presumptions?
It is not Pakistan's responsibility to stop the Tailiban within Afganistan. We have no remit to do that, nor do we desire to have such a remit.
ISI involved in dangerous Afghan-game. No peace achievable in Pakistan unless ISI comes under civilian government.
People who do not learn from their past mistake are condemned to repeat it. so goes the history
Its a sure sign of losing the war when you start looking for scape goats rather then accept your inability to win and accept defeat ? Perhaps the high and mighty refuses to learn from their past history.
The end game is in progress. Taliban think that as soon as Americans will vacate this region i.e., militarily, they will fight back and take over Kabul and the rest of the Afganistan in couple of years time. This had happened when Najeebullah was President. However Taliban are forgetting that without Pakistan's direct assistance they had no chance even then. Americans are in no mood to please Taliban and create another safe heaven for Al Qaeda. Taliban have to either ditch their militant philosophy or face continued war in one shape or another for the foreseeable future. Pakistan still has to choose sides.
Let them work on it, the CIA will find a link or will create a link...
@Mirza: This 'strategic assets' quip is getting older, maybe you should check out the CNN/BBC websites to get the latest meme, or maybe TOI? NATO/US will not miss any opportunity to dob Pakistan in for any and all attacks in Pakistan.
They didn't have enough intelligence to stop the attacks but are pointing fingers less than 24 hours before its ended?
@Mirza: I am sure that the Indians are more to blame for their strategic assets getting out of control. One day the Americans will understand the real culprits who are behind the instability in the region.
It would seem the CJCS is splitting hairs with this remark....
@Mirza: don't mind, r u sania mriza's brother..lol
"However, he added that they believed that with the Afghan Army, the US would be able to combat these attacks"
HAHAHAH good one dumpty!
Back to your old ways, eh? Reopening supply routes was the single most disastrous decision ever courtesy of our parliament trolls. Morally, Ethically, Tactically, and Islamically. WRONG.
And the US is back to accusations and slamming Pakistan.
The should ask their CIA and military what their elaborate state of the art electronic intelligence monitoring, surveillance and reconnaissance net was doing during the attack. The answers are close to home.
I hope these would not b same evidences as India provided... like, "we have found a wrapper of Pakistani soap from Taj hotel therefore, Pakistan is involved in the Mumbai attacks"
yes we understand in case Nato supplies are not allowed within next some days as per your wishes, proof of use of Pakistani soil for planning afghan attacks will become visible.... please find some new tricks from your bag
Do they think we have forgotten what the last Joint Chiefs Chairman said about the Haqqani Network? How could Adm. Mullen have been more clear?... "they are a viratable arm of Pakistani ISI". So the only way for this attack to have been planned somewhere besides Pakistan is if the ISI moved. I don't think they can do that.
Looks like our strategic assets are going to be hit hard. These attacks have made sure that the drone attacks would coutinue and not stop.
"US does not have any intelligence yet" when do they ever have intelligence?