Not be surprised about ISI links with Haqqani: General Allen
Speaking at the think tank the Brookings Institution in Washington DC, General Allen said that the relationships between the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), the Haqqani Network and other groups go back a long time, but he refused to comment further, saying he could not speculate why the ISI is doing anything, and said that these relations were unhelpful.
“In this forum I can't really speculate on why the ISI does anything with respect to the Haqqanis. I don't think we should be surprised that they have a relationship, that relationship with the ISI and a number of these organisations goes back a very long time,” he said.
But he added that the fact these relationships exist are not of particular surprise. “We shouldn't be surprised that they have a relationship, I would not speculate on what specific operational support they have or whether they are an actual arm. I would just say that the relationship potentially is unhelpful."
In response to a question, the ISAF Commander said that "opportunities exist with Pakistan to increase cooperation". He said that ISAF has tried to revamp procedures after the Salala incident to reduce occurence of another incident like this.
General Allen said that they have tried to restore cross border relationship with Pakistani military officers. He said that several meetings had been held in the past few months with Afghan and Pakistani officers to resume border relations. In response to a question, General Allen said that they were not in a position at the moment to participate in complementary operations with Pakistan, but added that he had been discussing it with COAS General Kayani a day before the Salala airstrike in their meeting on November 25 last year.
General Allen added that more than 2000 people have been killed in counterinsurgency operations in Pakistan.
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@khan of quetta: and now playing even more important role in defeating US and Allies...
Bye Bye Pakistan!
"Insanity is repeating the same mistake of trusting Pakistani establishment again and again and expecting different results" ... with due apologies to Rita Mae Brown.
@PARDESI: Agree with you.
@Feroz, yes because everyone fighting in Afghanistan is a "terrorist"...give me a break
@Khan of quetta:
They also have a "key role" in chopping up noses and ears of women, shooting indiscriminately at people in Kabul Bank, blowing up themselves in the mosques and beheading engineers who build roads, hospitals and schools.
Probably you and your country will understand if you start looking at the big picture i.e when US and its cohorts have left Afghanistan in a hurry. Probably US will appreciate what Pakistan is trying to achieve if they have any respect for others other than themselves or try to (US) move away from one sided thinking. Saying all this I have to say that I put Haqani's and US at the same level BOTH "cannot be trusted".
haqqanis played a key role in defeating soviets
A conspiracy to defame innocent ISI.
Allah save Pakistan! Writing is on the Wall.
General Alan failed to tell congress that what will happen when US will leave Afghanistan in 2014 leaving Pakistan high and dry. If today Pakistan leave Haqqanis then she has to grapple with Haqqanis after departure of US and it would be a disastrous equation ( as usual with no US help). Do US has answer for this riddle?
@Bhindian: If terrorist groups like the Haqqani network are allies of the ISI no one should spill tears if the country is declared a State sponsor of terrorism. I am sure you cannot understand the implications of that - suffice to say the country will need lots of wishes of Good Luck.
C.I.A most feared in entire world of int agencies has more relation with them than any one else in the reigen Gen sahab.
Did you hear off-mic conversation between Obama and Medvedev??? Illuminating. And then they accuse the world of having relationships in the shadows!!!!!!
And here we go again. As soon as they hear that Nato Supply line is going to open, they started the blame game again.
It is good if ISI maintains relations with the Haqqanis as they are more of an ally to us then US ever will be.