ISLAMABAD: In the continuing war of words between Islamabad and Washington, Interior Minister Rehman Malik once again denied that the Haqqani network was operating from Pakistani soil.
In a tersely-worded rejoinder, Malik said that the Haqqanis were created and trained by the US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and may well be based in Afghanistan.
“Let us be pragmatic. If you (US) have any information on the Haqqani network’s presence in Pakistan, share it with us and we will cooperate as we have been cooperating in the past,” said Malik while talking to the media on Sunday.
He said Pakistan had no links with the Haqqani network or any other terrorist group. However, it was a fact that the CIA had produced and trained the Haqqanis and other Mujahideen during the Afghan war, when Pakistan supported them, he added.
“But that was then. Now, Pakistan has no links with Haqqani network which is not based here,” said the minister. “They were sons of the Afghan soil and they were based there as well,” he added.
Elaborating on how Pakistan needed moral support in the fight against terrorism, Malik said “Consider us a part of the solution, not the problem”.
However, his denial of the presence of the Haqqanis on Pakistani soil was contradicted by the militant network itself, which recently warned Washington against any military adventure in North Waziristan’s territory.
Rehman Malik’s heated defense, however, included an explanation of how security at the Pak-Afghan border had been enhanced.
The interior minister also added that security agencies had intercepted and foiled a terrorist plan to target parliamentarians in parliament lodges and to take them as hostages.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2011.
COMMENTS (26)
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Based on responses & reports anyone can be convinced how important it is for a country like Pakistan to be self sustained and stable__ politically and economically. We have no choice but if we want peaceful resolution we must go out of the way to make friend with even hostile neighbors and get them in confidence. In-order to achieve that we must eliminate corruption and improve law & order, safety & security for all. All countries need economic promise and freedom to trade and commerce for their sustenance. War or war-like attitude is not going to get you anywhere but into North Korea-like isolation from the world except of-course China.
Yes the Americans says that Haqani Group is dangrous for U.S.A and they do military action against haqani group, now please give me answer same as Israel is dangrous for muslim world why we donot do military operation in israel.
If the kiling of inocent peoples is terorisim then yes haqani and talibans are terorist but from second world war up to know U.S.A killed 0.5 million inocent peoples in the world and also use atomic bombs in japan they are crual state terorism
TTP not Haqqani are CIA patsies.
@Nadir: lol if terrorist are cia agents, launching a military operation displacing million of people is not the answer.
Mr Rehman Malik , you never seize to amaze me !!!Created by USA? Ok. Flush out these CIA agents. For once we have found them! Can the Army move now?
OR should we complete the rest of the statement?
Haqqani network created by USA; trained, armed and financed by our Army for last 20 years. (even when USA was not in the region.)
On "Malik’s statements run contrary to claims by the Haqqani’s,"
Btw ..... Haqqani Network also claimed that they have no bases in Pakistan they operate from within Afghanistan (see their recent interview with Reuters)..... which I guess is in line with Rehman Malik Statement !
All political heavyweights are supporting the military by issuing inflammatory statements which is not going to help Pakistan's cause but instead enrage US even more to take stringent measures which may badly hurt the country.
"Malik’s statements run contrary to claims by the Haqqani’s" No it doesn't
No one would be allowed inside Pakistan without immigration clearance.. Very funny though considering OBL episode
'Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the Haqqani network were created and trained by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)'
Rehman Baba Spoke one true statement.. Finnaly...
UN should pass a resolution declaring Haqqanis a terrorist organization.
A useless statement. Would this attitude take Pakistan anywhere? Americans are not talking about the past... what Pakistan has been up to in the past is history for them. More important is what to do next. Keep doing the same or bring in sanity in this equation, and dissociate Pakistan from barbarianism, and associate with the civilized world. At this point, only one path takes to self-destruction, and unfortunately Pakistan is trying to stick to that.
USA and Pakistan are on collison course.
But Mr. Malik am I wrong to squote you saying Mossad, RAW and the aliens were responsible for all Pakistan's problems. Please investigate who gave them immigration clearance?
He is acting exactly as Tariq Aziz. Last days of a country.
Malik is a source of great amusement when he's at his best.
Yes USA made Taliban and Haqqani network for Soviat Russia.. but it is also true that they made them with the help of Pakistan.. This help made them friend.. Now that group are dangerous to USA but they are more dangerous to the Pakistan.. When any one is mantaining parallel military in any country they are dangerous for the country.. Pakistan please open your eyes u have every thing for your progress.. u have good relation with China and USA.. just do something against this parellel army and make your people safe.
Mr. Rehman Malik you are right but 'creation' don't kill the 'creator' otherwise the one who created can kill too.
No one would be allowed without immigration clearence? I would like to see entry stamps on Sirajuddin Haqqani's passport for all the business trips he takes between the two countries. BTW, does he have Pakistani passport or Afghani one?
So will immigration centres be set-up in the air , so that incoming chonook helicopters that landed boots on the ground in the hallowed territory of Abbotabad, be granted Visas in the air ? Will Visas be required for misiles, drones and pilots of b-52 bombers ? Mr Malik thinks USA is like India. Only time will tell.
can sumone please tell this guy to zip it ?? please ?
Pakistan is on war path now. Decisions have been made. Escalation of tension is on in full swing. But hang on, don't expect ant declaration of war. It will be all about proxies and cutting supplies. Watch out.
Isn't this more of a reason to go after the Haqqani network Mr Malik? If the terrorists are CIA agents, why should that be a reason not to go after them?
something's fishy going on her....:S
What? But just yesterday S Haqqani dared the US to attack N Waziristan. If they were trained by the CIA isnt that even more reason to take them out? "No one will be allowed to Pakistan without immigration clearance"? What a joke, who stamped OBL's passport?