ISLAMABAD: The United States' decision to designate the Haqqani network as a terrorist organisation shows it is not sincere about peace efforts in Afghanistan, senior commanders of the group said on Friday.
The move will also bring hardship for US Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who is being held by the militants, the commanders told Reuters.
Earlier, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the Pakistan-linked Haqqani network, blamed for a series of attacks in Afghanistan, met the criteria to be designated a terrorist group.
Despite concerns over the impact such a move on the tense US ties with Islamabad, Clinton said in a statement she had "notified Congress of my intent to designate the Haqqani Network" as a foreign terrorist organization. US President Barack Obama had signed a bill into law last month which gave the Secretary of State 30 days to certify whether the group met the criteria to be designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC released a statement, saying the designation was “an internal matter for the United States. It is not our business. The Haqqanis are not Pakistani nationals. We will continue to work with all international partners including the US in combating extremism and terrorism."
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
america's 9/11 gift to pakis.............
@Cautious: "Words of wisdom – unfortunately I doubt many Pakistani’s would agree.
" Well they mght agree if they thought the Haqqani in question was Hussain Haqqani.
Words of wisdom - unfortunately I doubt many Pakistani's would agree.
Were the Haqqanis ever interested in peace?
@HAQQANIS as if you have been very helpful in the so called "peace process". Now it's your masters' turn to feel the heat.
As if not designating them as a terrorist grouphas brought peace to Afghanistan. I think the steep mountain ranges in Pakistan has not let sunshine through. These guys are not able to see the light of day and dividends of peace.
Are the Haqqanis now confessing that they are involved in brewing trouble in Afghanistan? And if they are so against the US, why do they care what the US says! Or is it that there property and drug smuggling empire that runs through Pakistan, Afghanistan and then into places like Dubai will get affected?