According to a senior administration official quoted in the report, it was safe to assume that the Haqqani network was discussed during the secret meeting and that the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani was stressed towards taking a direct action against the militant network.
Earlier, the US officials met with the leaders of Haqqani network in efforts to talk the militant organisation into ending the war in Afghanistan. According to the NYT report, both the meetings were an indication of “Obama administration’s complicated and seemingly contradictory policies in Afghanistan and Pakistan”, as well as the efforts of the US to rebuild its deteriorating relationship with Pakistan.
The report states that the US State Department is willing to designate the Haqqani network as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation,” but some military commanders are holding back the decision fearing that it might “alienate the Haqqanis and drive them away from future talks.”
The US-Pakistan relationship strained after Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of supporting the Haqqani network and for helping them carry out the attack on US embassy in Kabul on September 10. Pakistan’s top military officials and other leaders have met with US officials in several meeting following the accusations to assure them of Pakistan’s fight against the militants.
The recent allegations have become a major stumbling block in improving the relationship between the two countries which has been on a steady decline since the May 2 US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
COMMENTS (30)
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what tough message you talk peace with taliban and say pakistan to fight haqqaniis.
The US is engaged in talks with the Taliban, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said, in the first high-level confirmation of US involvement.
@Miqs: haha. it is really amusing. u people know only one thing that is"fight". avoid extremism. U know even islam preaches peace. instead of talking about "fight" talk about progress.talking about progressing without taking aid from anyone
Why is this sudden ho ha about the Haqqani Group when it has existed since the Russians tried their luck in Afghanistan? Obviously this an excuse for something else. The US has been doing this frequently in its foreign policy whenever it ran out of luck.
@MarkH: You seem to understand the dynamics of American politics and economy so you could be right, I hope not. In a war like this there are no winners. Who won the Vietnam war? Or who won the Iran-Iraq war? This is a losing cause for all parties involved - no matter how you look at it.
@LOK: I like how you don't think. The money in the US isn't dedicated to involvement with Pakistan, regardless of the screaming egos. It's about priorities. When the majority of the population has what amounts to a 24/7 death threat directed at them it doesn't end due to an unstable economy. The money is taken from somewhere else. It's the sacrifice of luxuries that will occur, not of lives by lessening military pressure. In fact, the exact opposite is more likely. If there's a clock ticking, the pressure the US will apply is only going to increase at a faster rate. I also assure you, a government is not the primary population of a country. The people don't take it into their hands because the government is complying with the concerns. It won't end on a loss. The way it is dealt with is all that will change. I always find it funny seeing people think the US will lose over there. You have absolutely no grasp on just how stubborn and independent the people really can be. The government is merely the agent of the citizens. They don't, and won't fall back just because the government says they want them to. The government would only get a negative reaction through the loss of respect due to acting and looking so weak in their name.
@Pasha:
This means you have puppet civilian govt.?
@Pasha:
"Our army officers meet secretly… under what mandate and under what scope?"
What mandate? You must be very ignorant or have been burying your head in sand. The Pakistani army generals have been the de facto rulers and policy makers for the past six decades. The don't need any mandate other than their uniform.
I wouldn't disagree that Pakistan need to do what they think is best for them. US is not the superpower they were, declining US economy will give Pakistan (and other countries) the space they didn't have in the past. However, Haqqanis or Talibans must be contained (from Pakistan view point, in Pakistan's interest, need to have clear strategy from Pakistan on this.
so the love affair is still going on. the question who is going to dump first..
@Grace:
All the news papers in the world collectively cannot achieve the negative publicity you create for yourself everyday. Grace, you people don't need help, you do it all by yourself. Grace, there are plenty of clowns in the government, military and citizens like you do one hell of job, all by yourselves.
@Miqs:
Good for you. You won't a lot to support for in a short while.
India is only concerned about terrorists coming in from Pak. We don't really want anything to do with you. You people are doing an excellent job creating misery all by yourselves.
@Grace: Dear this the real america dealing with them and donn't know, this is true living in forigin country cann't understand exceppet laffaji.
Reading the comments above makes me realize how delusional even educated Pakistanis are.
On one hand US pressing Pakistan to take action against Haqqani's and on other hand US officials talking to Haqqani's to end the war- so who is playing the double game? Also, does this indicate that US has lost a multi trillion dollar war and the acceptance of defeat is immiment?
The NYT newspaper has its own agenda to support India. Have you noticed that every month or so like clockwork they publish something meant to defame Pakistan? It's like they are part of a plan to keep the pressure up but everyone sees it as a childish game to use Pakistan as a scape goat for Western failures despite the sacrifices Pakistan made to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan.
Since 9/11/2001 the US has given $20 billion to Pakistan mostly in military aid. This is no chump change and the US (right or wrong) wants results, it is that simple. After killing OBL, the old game is over and new terms and conditions have started. Pakistani army is and would continue to cooperate with the US no matter what they say in public. Kayani was the ISI chief and a US partner way before the current govt came into power & the US knows who the real rulers are in Pakistan.
Army is more responsible and has gone so mature, to handle situations which have direct relation with its operations.
Pakistan Army is the sole institution standing between American & Indian designs
I support Pak Army & If time comes i will join the military to fight them
PaK Fauj Zindabad
US polices are two edge knife. Pakistan army is doing great job by not falling to the US demands to confront the H Group. We have already learned our lessons during the 1980 Afghan war that cost us internal security with the introduction of KK culture and million of Afghan refugees to deal with. US support to Pakistan has always been a one way street and their relationship cannot be trusted considering the long Pak-American history. As long as we follow their directives we are in their good book and any conflict puts our sovereignty in jeopardy. US knows that they have to bring HG on the table but at the same time they wanted to indulging Pakistan in war against them that would even further doctorate the internal security and stability of the country. Pakistan army is doing the good job of trying to get the message across to US that they are not going to repeat the mistake they did in the past and the only solution to this problem and for US to come clean out of Afghanistan is to bring everyone on the table. But I guess due to the vested American interest in the region this will never happen and a US puppet government will always remain in power in Afghanistan and continue to threaten the regional stability for years to come.
@R.A: Everyone knows that really important decisions in Pakistan are taken or approved by the army!
Tough times ahead for both Kayani and Pakistan for playing double game.
Where are the members of political parties who met at the APC?
because if the tough message was delivered to Mr. Zardari then .......
Thats all America has now ...... Tough messages......
@R.A: it means, america and the pro american media , now the only thing standing between total chaos in pakistan and peace is Pak Army
US secretly met Kayani to deliver a 'tough message': NYT .... And got what in Return ...
Its only a report of New York Times not the universal truth. don't u know how is US media?
Does this mean U.S think that it is army not the elected government who are running the country or they think army is more reliable.Our army officers meet secretly... under what mandate and under what scope?