WASHINGTON: US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) raised an eyebrow at Pakistan’s ‘unwillingness or inability’ to take decisive action against the Haqqani terrorist network and its leadership, at an event organised by the United States Institute of Peace on Thursday. The senator said that the Haqqani group and its syndicate network was conducting attacks in the east of Afghanistan, while discussing her trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan in August this year.
A member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Shaheen travelled to the region in August with Democratic Senators Carl Levin and Jeff Merkley.
In her speech, Senator Shaheen acknowledged Pakistan’s action against extremists within its own borders, saying, “Pakistanis are firing on fellow Pakistanis.”
However, she said, Pakistan must take action against extremist groups with links to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). She said she was told in her meetings with US and Pakistani officials that the three issues that had led to US-Pakistan relations being at an all-time low were ‘WikiLeaks, the Raymond Davis controversy and the Osama Bin Laden raid.’
Speaking about her meeting with the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani, Shaheen said that she had a newfound appreciation for the efforts being made by the Pakistani military after being briefed about the casualties suffered by the army.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2011.
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Senator Shaheen observations are quite correct and also valid. It is an established fact that Afghan Taleban are stationed in NW for many years and patronised as strategic assets by the military. Whereas the TTP found a safe haven in both Afghanistan and NW during operation launched by the army which could have been avoided if Pak border outposts along Afghan border were in place before commencing these all important operations against this outfit. Therefore, it makes little sense to blame Afghanistan or NATO forces since Pak army did not seek any help from them to position their forces on border before commencing the operations against TTP. Reluctance by Pak military to undertake operations against Afghan Taleban is aptly analysed by the Senator ie unwillingness/inability or may be combination of both for which the country might pay a heavy price at a belated stage.
This is just very interesting.
1) Pakistan refused to take control of North Waziristan. 2) US, fed up, says, "Two can play this game" and withdraws from certain areas adjacent to Pakistan. 3) TTP sensing pressure from Pak Army moves into these areas to establish safe havens, just like the Haqqanis are in North Waziristan. 4) Pakistan cant ask for the US to take control of the area, unless it takes control of North Waziristan!
What goes around comes around. To all those who are demanding Afghanistan, US to take action on insurgents, US will say,"You first!".
World is a funny place, aint it!
U.S have to leave this region...its good for them
@Arindom: India sent terrorists across the border from Afghanistan during Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and supported that invasion. It is still doing it from Afghanistan under NATO supervision. @Incredible: Common Mere Pappu !!! Try it.. Maza to us ke baad aye ga, Do it. Cross the borders and then see how many cross broder from the other side into India. From Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Maybe China will take advantage too and might cross into India once India shows it a way. Common pappu, do it.
Naach Na Jane AANgan Tehda! Bas yehi baat hai. Incapable and incompetent themselves and blaming rest of the world.
She is right, she was born here in Pakistan, belong to this region, know more about this region. What do we know we are tourists afters all :)
@MK: Should the Indian Army also cross over into Pakistan and deal with the terrorists camps?
Who cares what she thinks??
Also lets not forget these talibs and Hekmatyar were CIA assets not too long ago.
Come on senator, dont worry so much.
Tu Shaheen ha basaira Kar Paharo ki Chatanon par .....:-)
"Unable" and "Unwilling" are the always the only two choices that Pakistan has in any matter these days. The same two choices for all matters and seasons. "Unable" means we are incompetent fools. "Unwilling" means we are vile religious bigots and terrorists.
Take your pick! Fool or Terrorist? What will it be today?
@MK. You present a false set of facts to bolster your argument. Pakistan makes no bones about the fact that they know exactly where the Haqqani terrorist reside inside Pakistan as well as the fact that they have no intention of fighting them. NATO on the other hand has made no bones about the fact that they would like to destroy all of the terrorist and time and time again have pounded the Taliban as they flee to their sanctuary wihin Pakistan -- NATO fights them all the way to the border of Pakistan where they are met by fire from the Pakistani border patrol. . Further -- NATO does not have the right to allow or deny Pakistan access to Afghanistan territory -- that's up to the Afghan govt - the same Afghan govt that has pleaded with Pakistan to deny sanctuary to the Taliban. I doubt the Afghan govt or anyone outside of Pakistan has any sympathy for Pakistan recent problem with terrorist fleeing into a neighbor country to avoid retaliation.
It is good to see Pakistanis commenting against 'assets' across the border in Afghanistan. Hope this will help open their eyes to the fact that Pakistan maintained 'assets' on their soil ( and still does) to attack India. India never sent any terrorists across the border into Pakistan - and everyone will admit it.
@AK: She is married to a prominent Lebanese Christian decent lawyer named Bill Shaheen.
@Cautious:
Very well said. Pakistan regular army should be let into Afghanistan and go after terrorists US and Afghan army is unwilling to engage. I guess both sides have their "Assets" they want to protect. Remember when Pakistan conducted an operation in S Warizistan and terrorists fled into Afghanistan, they were never engaged by US or Afghan forces, reason being they were not a threat to them, they were only Anti Pakistan. Good job, stay cautious.
@AK: Senator Jean Shaheen who has been the governor of NH state prior to becoming a US senator, uses her husband's last name Shaheen. This name has nothing to do with Islam or Pakistan. In 1990 I bought a car from a salesman whose last name was Madina. He had no clue as to the origin of that name. Senator Shaheen's elections to the highest posts of her state only shows that Americans are open to any and all names, provided they are good at their work. The election of B. H. Obama is another example of this. Thanks and regards, Mirza
In a very similar manner US and NATO are harboring TTP (responsible for almost all attacks in Pakistan) in Afghanistan ..... It
"“The Afghans have one map, and Pakistan has a different one,” she said."
Ironic isn't is - a few of the Pakistani missiles are named after Afghan warriors - but now Afghans and Pakistanis are fighting each other.
NATO has been getting owned for a decade in Afghanistan. I guess they too are unable or unwilling?
LOL....its better if the US leaves this region for EVER!
Maybe the senator saw first hand the price that everyday Pakistanis are paying for the war. Only recently scores of Pakistanis were killed when anti state cowards bombed civilians and the FC in Quetta. Pakistan does not have the resources of the US and our lacklustre leaders are satisified with the pittance they receive. Think about cheap it was for the West to use Pakistan to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan and effectively end the Cold War. We saved the West trillions of dollars but they are miserly when it comes to cleaning up the mess that was created by them. When this senator asks Pakistan to "do more", does she not understand that most of the violence is coming from across the border in Afghanistan. If she is so concerned about the cross border movement of people, can the US not help Pakistan build a big wall to restrict movement into Pakistan from Afghanistan. After all the US is spending billions on a wall to keep out illegal Mexicans.
Nice press release from the US establishment via American contract "journalist" Huma Imtiaz. Who cares what Shaheen thinks?
Senator Shaheen...why does she have a Pakistani name?
what about the taliban in Kunar province AFGH?? US and NATO unable or unwilling to attack them?