WASHINGTON: US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey says that there are certain issues that they have still not been able to find common ground on with Pakistan as relations remain in limbo.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, CJCS General Dempsey said, “I’ve been working with US-Pakistan relations in earnest since 2005…its always surprising to me, we do some things very well, we have some interests on which we co-operate, and on some issues we have not been able to find common ground.”
General Dempsey lamented that issues including that of Haqqani Network and the presence of the Afghan Taliban in FATA were areas where both countries have failed to move forward. He said that the Haqqani Network was as big a threat to Pakistan as it was to Afghanistan and the US, “but we have not been able to find common ground on that, and that is frustrating.”
In response to a question on Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s remarks on the US being at war in FATA, General Dempsey said that the US is at war with al Qaeda, and that they would pursue them. He added that al Qaeda was present in FATA.
"Al Qaeda remains a factor both inside of the Federally Administered Tribal Area in Pakistan, to a much lesser extent inside Afghanistan. And all I can tell you is that we remain at war with al Qaeda and we will confront them wherever we find them."
"Pakistan is at war in the FATA, and with us, in some cases, not with any US military personnel, with us in the sense that they are trying to diminish the effect of those insurgencies on that side of the border."
On the subject of Pakistan, General Dempsey said, “Pakistan, with us, is at war in FATA with other groups.” The General then turned diplomat as he added that while the US was “extraordinarily dissatisfied” on the subject of the Haqqani Network and Pakistan, that they were mindful of the fact that Pakistan has also been carrying out military operations with great losses in FATA. He said that Pakistan has also been trying to diminish the effect of the insurgency and remained an important partner.
"We continue to work on any number of things, whether it's GLOCs or the safe haven or activities -- kinetic activities in the FATA. And we just have to keep at it, because Pakistan's an important partner. But there are some things that we just have to keep after."
When asked about Secretary Panetta’s remarks about losing patience with Pakistan over the Haqqani Network, General Dempsey said that the goal is to get the Haqqani Network’s influence to recede in the eastern part of Afghanistan, which is where the group was based and operated. He said that last year they had been focused on the southern part of Afghanistan, and in 2012, they are focusing on the eastern part of Afghanistan "that's where Haqqani is."
Along with the apparent lack of convincing action on the Haqqani network by Pakistani forces , Dempsey said a major challenge was the increased activity displayed by the militant group which may hamper their transition deadline. “This is the hardest part of the transition.” The CJCS said that they have to reduce the group’s influence in order to meet their transition deadline.
General Dempsey also said that they had hard intelligence linking the Haqqani Network to the attack in Afghanistan last month, and that the group had become more active. “They are rising in importance in our view.”
COMMENTS (26)
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@Zalmai:
"You are making a mockery of history and making it his story."
Should have been better if you had provided some facts to nullify the statements of my comment instead of a hopeless rhetoric of an incapacitated desperate individual. But I give you the discount for doing so because it is almost impossible to negate facts and truth and rhetoric is the only recourse to retreat.
@Lala Gee
You are making a mockery of history and making it his story. It is okay because every nation has to manufacture myths in order to promote a national narrative, which shows it in a positive light. I don't blame you, because you are just a product of a nation that is in collective denial.
@True Muslim Paki
Pakistan is the only nation that defeated two super powers? You must be a disciple of Zaid Hamid and suffer from delusions of grandeur. Pakistan cannot defeat TTP let alone super powers. As for the future leaders of Afghanistan, I guarantee you that the Haqqanis will be minor players on the periphery and relegated to local politics.
@ayesha_khan:
"Yeah right. Even as it lost all its wars with India…. interesting/"
Well we fought three wars with India, or lets say four if Kargil is also included.
1948: Pakistan won and occupied considerable area of Kashmir.
1965: Nobody won. India failed to take back control of the Kashmir and GB valleys and occupy Lahore. Pakistan failed to capture the remaining part of Kashmir valley even though it made some advancements.
1971: Pakistan Lost (but India didn't win anything, ask Bangladeshis how much they love you). The reason were very simple. Pakistan was strategically at disadvantage as it was separated by 1,000 miles of hostile Indian territory.
1999: Nothing on the ground changed, so if India claims a win for taking back, through American pressure, its own territory, we have no problem accepting your claim.
In addition to all the above, India fought a war with China in 1962 and was humiliatingly defeated. India fought yet another clandestine war in Sri Lank during 1983 - 1987 period, and lost it shamefully.
@gp65: USA is supporting TTP indirectly
@True Muslim Paki: "Pakistan is only nation which defeated 2 super powers!"
Yeah right. Even as it lost all its wars with India.... interesting/
We all Pakistanis must persuade our Gov. to keep ourselves out any strategic endeavors . We must keep equal relations with all countries of world . Kill anyone who carry illegal arms on our soil and also those who invade in our borders , we must remain impartial if we need to stabilize our economy .
By the way, is there any connection between Panetta, Clinton and Dempsey's statements and Pakistan testing missiles?
Is it too difficult to understand that Pakistan cannot and should not tolerate any extra constitutional authority within the country? No. So why this fuss over things. Even before the drones take care of them we should eliminate any threat to the state of Pakistan wherever it comes from be it Taliban, Haqqani or TTP. High time we realised that without perfect law and order throughout the couintry there is no future for Pakistan. Set our house in order please.
Time to take off the kid gloves and show Pakistan the balled up fist. Sometimes playing nice does not get through. If it means making another call like the one immediately after 9/11, so be it. This double-game is more than an irritant.
The combo of Panetta and Dempsey making similar speeches maybe directed at American audiences as much as Pakistan. It possible that the USA has made some decisions about the future relationship with Pakistan and it maybe prepping an American audience for some policy changes.
Haqqani's are the future leaders of Afghanistan & Pakistan will protect them! It's in our national interest, & we don't care what some XYZ thinks. Wasn't karzai a stooge of US & Indians? US & NATO is frustrated by the defeat at the hands of Pakistan. Pakistan is only nation which defeated 2 super powers!
What about the whole of Afghanistan? Is he not frustrated over that? Does he think we're not frustrated over regular cross border attacks from the Afghan side?
@Listen-carefully totally agree, this is not our war and leave us alone!!! We on our side need to say a big NO to the aid, take tough measures and make our rich pay tax.
It is convinient for US to say that Al-Qaeeda is only present in FATA. They ignore the fact that Punjabi Taliban are present all over Punjab but they do not have the courage to name it. Because they are scared of sending drones there. Poor Pashtuns they have to face the brunt of Blind Pakistan Army Artillery & Airforce(using google maps to kill people) & US Drones.
From the photo of the General Dempsey, it looks like he is tired, he needs to retire.
I think Pakistan should do what it thinks is best for it and so should the USA. As Asad Umar bluntly states: “The economic situation of the country is so scary that the government can’t even muddle through now”.
down with invaders!
@Chopper: "If Haqqani is that big of a threat to Pakistan then Pakistan would have dealt with them the same way they deal with TTP"
I see. So do you believe that TTP has been dealt with? Is that why all these suicide bombings continue? Is that why the Bannu jailbreak occurred? Is that why 3 years after the Swat operation, your army F16s are still bombarding FATA?
As you sow,so you reap.True for US,true for Pakistan!
Time has come to move from "Do More" to "Drone More"
Sanction Pakistan as aiding and abetting terrorists, threaten to publish a list of all Pakistani politicians/beurocrates who have availed financial and other benefits from US/NATO during this process or to aid in this process, and you will see how quickly this will get sorted out.
For Gods sake this is not our war! Please leave us alone we have bigger issues at hand!!!!!!!!
"He said that the Haqqani Network was as big a threat to Pakistan" If Haqqani is that big of a threat to Pakistan then Pakistan would have dealt with them the same way they deal with TTP......but it is clear Haqqani Network is only a threat to invading forces in Afghanistan and not Pakistan.
Cant u protect Afgan borders from ur side to prevent cross border attacks ? what have u done in 11 years ?