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Pakistan rejects Panetta's comments on militant safe havens
Foreign ministry says Secretary of Defense 'oversimplifying some of the very complex issues'.
Foreign ministry says Secretary of Defense 'oversimplifying some of the very complex issues'. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday rejected US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s recent comments on militant safe havens in Pakistan, a move that could intensify tensions between troubled allies Islamabad and Washington.
“We feel that the Secretary of Defense is oversimplifying some of the very complex issues we are all dealing with in our efforts against extremism and terrorism,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“We strongly believe that such statements are misplaced and unhelpful in bringing about peace and stability in the region.”
Panetta said on Thursday that stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan would remain difficult as long as militants had safe havens in Pakistan.
“It is very important for Pakistan to take steps. It is an increasing concern, the issue of safe haven, and we are reaching the limits of our patience,” he said, using some of the strongest language from a senior US official on Washington’s strained relations with Islamabad.
“Pakistan has repeatedly said that it will not allow its territory to be used against any country, nor will it allow any safe havens on its territory,” the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, adding that Islamabad will “follow its own timeline” and strategy on operations against militants.
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As always Pakistan rejects the truth.
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Harsh truth from Panetta.
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Mr Panetta seems confused he is not able to decide what will work .Hope he his able to relies the damaging effect of his statement .
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“the Secretary of Defense is oversimplifying some of the very complex issues”
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The FO may be right that Mr Panetta is oversimplifing…
but even the FO is not denying the existence of the Terrorists camps.
Tacit admission by FO.
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If there are no terrorists sanctuaries then who are the drones targeting? tourists?
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who is oversimplying?
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Not at all. This is not an “over simplification”. Pakistan is making this needlessly complex. You either fight the terrorists or support them. It is really that simple.
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Well Pakistan had rejected stories about OBL’s presence and Kasab’s provenance too.
These stories turned out to be true.
So the current charges must also be as true.
QED.
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One had mentioned in one of his comments some time back that appointment of hawks like the Secretary of Defense & Director CIA would ignite 3rd World War in our region & we are slowly heading towards that.
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Well somebody has to make up a reason why the so called Super power can’t win a war for a decade… elections are near – start blaming others… Typical Yanks.
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Indeed, dealing with your children you nurtured in your bosom. Everyone in the world knows that.
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What about safe heavens in Afghanistan?
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@Rizwan:
I don’t believe Mr. Panetta is confused one bit. He knows exactly what action needs to be taken but he is concerned with the damage (I mean casualty) it will cause to innocent civilians.
What you folks seems to forget is that Mr. Panetta was Presidents Clinton’s Chief of Staff when the administration asked for permission for the missiles against OBL in the 90’s. Mr. Panetta know very well that the ISI tipped OBL allowing him to escape. No, Mr. Panetta is not confused, you people are!
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Looks like a frustrated guy, who is about to lose a war.
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Panetta is unaware of the ground realities, so are most of you. I know cause i have been there, i have my home there and live there. You guys no nothing about anything. I hope u realize the Game that is being played around you by US. I feel sorry for my friends and brothers who know nothing.
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We are fast running out of co incidences of every terrorist having links with someone in our homeland. Of all the places on Earth why our country remains the most favored by terrorists for planning of operations, logistical support and after retirement retreat?Recommend
“Pakistan has repeatedly said that it will not allow its territory to be used against any country, nor will it allow any safe havens on its territory,”
Yeah. Nobody denies you’ve said is repeatedly. The problem is it’s empty.
“Islamabad will “follow its own timeline” and strategy on operations against militants.”
and in the meantime you expect people to sit there and die because it’s the polite thing to do?
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@China:
You sound like a conspiracy theorist who knows he’ll be seen for what he is if he actually bluntly says what he’s trying to imply.
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Confused or not is another story, like always they have no proof, He should have solid proof before he opens his mouth.
Did they have proof when they invaded Afghanistan ? till this day they are killing / arresting people all across the world for being terrorists or aiding terrorist do they have shown anybody a shred on proof…..no.JUST BECAUSE THEY SAY SO!!!!
Who did they show proof that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction what did they find? they just do what pleases them.
Guys all across the civilized world proof are required before any sort of action is taken.Recommend
@Javed:
Truth? Hah! So whatever pentagon utters is truth?
Remember just like Iraq had WMDs. and raymond davis was diplomat (according to obama)
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@observer:
…these stories were never proven true…no proof OBL was there has ever been shown…his alleged body dropped off very conveniently…Kassab’s link to Pakistan was never proven…his fellow attacker’s interview is still on the net for all to refer too.
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Only Imran khan can deal with them, he taught botham a good lesson,
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@Pragmatist:
“Not at all. This is not an “over simplification”. Pakistan is making this needlessly complex. You either fight the terrorists or support them. It is really that simple.”
Aren’t you also making a simple task complex by negotiating with the Maoists and Naxalites. Why don’t you just fight with them? Isn’t it that simple?
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“Islamabad will “follow its own timeline” and strategy on operations against militants.”
Well, after that statement how can Pakistan expect the world to sit back and relax? Needeless to say, the world has decided what they need to do till Pakistan finds its ‘own timeline’. Buck-up guys, you are going to see real fireworks in the near future. What Bush treatened to do, Obama is actually doing without a treat.
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@Saad
“..Only Imran khan can deal with them, he taught botham a good lesson,….”
That too in just 90 days, if i may add.
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Mr Panetta is justified in saying that Pakistan is haven for militants. Can any sane and right-minded Pakistani deny that brutal beasts are not living in this country in the garb of religious (so called) scholars? Is it not a fact that all the big Al Qaeda leaders have been murdered in Pakistan. I would request America to please continue with Drone attacks, even in other cities of Pakistan wherever you find any militant. I assure you majority of Pakistanis are tacitly with you.
ELIMINATE THE ENEMY OF WORLD PEACE FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
Gama Shah
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@Saad:
Huh? This is no cricket. And the US and NATO are no Bothams.
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@Saad:
Imran has yet to prove himself. There is no commonality between politics and cricket. Mr Saad mind it!
Gama Shah
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@k. Salim Jahangir:
3rd World War !!! This is what Hamid Gul has been saying. Yes, it looks like start of another war, but not a World War by any stretch of imagination. World War would imply that some countries would be supporting Pakistan and fighting along with it. I see none.
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Nuclear proliferation — deny. Kargil incursion — deny. OBL in Pakistan — deny. Ajmal Kasab is Pakistani — deny. Guess all other reports are not true either. Denialistan.
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There is a wishpering of the true agenda of US,that is to destablize Pakistan.
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@Sorry but:
Please continue to live in denial. Even alqaida members publicly say OBL was killed in abotabad. His family was found there / members wounded in the operation and subsequently deported from Pakistan. None of them have denied his presence in the premisis. Pakistani GOVT and ARMY agrees he was there. You still want proof then I guess you needed to be part of the operation to believe the truth. Also OBL’s body was buried out in sea cause the US did not want to make him a martyr.
About Kasab, there have been many investigations proving Kasabs family was from Faridkot. Take off your blinkers and get your head out of the sand. That is the only way Pakistan can move forward.
@Saad:
“Only Imran khan can deal with them, he taught botham a good lesson,”
Funniest comment in the world. This is not a cricket match. People are dying and taking decisions based on emotion will lead to Pakistan getting even more in trouble. I havent met a more emotional bunch of leaders than in Pakistan. The seem to think the whole world needs them due to their geo-politcal situation. Pakistan is only important in the world cause it is like a pest that just doesnt go away. I could never feel proud of that. Conveniently blaming foriegn interference for everything and denying everything without investigating is a joke.
On one hand the ISI and army are one of the best in the world but when was the last time we heard of a bomb / attack being prevented. OBL was found in Pakistan and no investigation on how he got there and who helped him. Its all about how this information got out and any person who leaked this info should be put in jail. If Pakistanis think this is correct then they shouldnt worry about the current state of the country. I see pakistan heading only one way if something isnt done very soon and that is DOWNHILL sadly into the dumps of history.
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@Saad: Very smart – everyone knows Botham is similar to Panetta ! :)
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Yes, clearly attacking tribal areas will win the war on terror right? How stupid or naive are people?
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Pakistan also rejected US statement that Sun rise happens from east in Pakistan.
Pakistan Prime Minister also said if USA had any solid proof, that will stand up in a Pakistani court to prove such an allegation, it should provide it to Pakistan.
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Let his patience run out and then let us all see what is he going to do! If Pakistan was covertly supporting Taliban, it should now do it openly. The world is yet to see those WMDs for which hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis were butchered by themRecommend
@Daredevil:
do they need to destabilize us? I think we are doing a pretty good job on our own with that
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““Pakistan has repeatedly said that it will not allow its territory to be used against any country, nor will it allow any safe havens on its territory,” the Foreign Ministry”
How about some actions that match the words? Allowing terrorist camps , allowing madrassas to preach hate speech against kafirs, allowing people like HAfiz Saeed to give hate speeches in broad daylight inciting violence against India and US. You cannot DO these things nd then expectpeople to trust your words which are the exact opposite.
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@k. Salim Jahangir: “One had mentioned in one of his comments some time back that appointment of hawks like the Secretary of Defense & Director CIA would ignite 3rd World War in our region & we are slowly heading towards that”
3rd world war? So which are the countries that are going to be alligned with Pakistan in this war? Your higher than mountains friend did not even support you on IP pipeline at the cost US sanctions.
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@Aslam Baloch: “Well somebody has to make up a reason why the so called Super power can’t win a war for a decade”
IT depends on what your definition of victory is. An American would rightly see that
1. Deposing dictator Saddam has led to Arab spring as one dictator after another tumbled. Bringing democracy to middle east was one of their goas and they succeeded
2. There have been no terror attacks in US in the last 11 years and no terror attacks in US for the last 7 years. Their goal was to degrade Al Qaeda so as to keep their homes safe and they have succeeded in that goal.
3. Killing OBL who was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans was their goal and they have succeeded in it.
4. To make funding terrorism difficult was one of their goals and they have succeeded in it.
5. Not allowing Afghanistan to be a sanctuary state for Al Qaeda was one of their goals and they pushed out the Afghan Taliban who are now hiding in their caves and women are out studying in schools. Even after they leave in 2014, it is unlikely that AFghans will support the barbaric Afghan Taliban regime. 4.
Whether someone won in a war or not is determined by whether they succeeded in their objectives. US has succeeded in their objectives.
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How can such geniuses end up at the Pakistan FO?
They say,”Pakistan has repeatedly said that it will not allow its territory to be used against any country, nor will it allow any safe havens on its territory”.
Isn’t that what exactly Panetta is saying? Not to let Pakistan’s territory being used by Terrorists? So, if Panetta says it its not OK, but you rephrase the words and you say it its absolutely fine?
The the above guys completely missing the point. The things I hear from Pakistanis!
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@Polpot: Not tourists, but innocent civilians. According to the NY Times by definition a terrorist “in effect counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants” . Meaning if you were standing in Waziristan right now – you would be a terrorist.
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Clownish statements from Panetta are certainly not helpful..
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@China: ‘I know cause i have been there’.
So China and its people know more than the rest of the world. Revelation.
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well…. what you call terrorist we call freedomfighters. These fredomfighters are not fighting against Pakistan army. They are only fighting against US/NATO. Unlike TTP, BLA ect.
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After taking lives of 3500 innocent civilians Mr Panneta u still mourning at Pakistan, it’s just like Might is Right
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I do agree that there are no safe havens in Pakistan
If Al-Qaeda No.1 Osama Bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALs and Al Qaeda’s number two was killed by drone…
How come u can call that place as a Safe Haven when they’re open season to US???
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“Pakistan rejects Panetta’s comments on militant safe havens”
Sure, Pakistan also used to reject that Osama bin Laden was ever in Pakistan!
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