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Pakistan rejects US allegations on militant safe havens
[Iran Press TV]  Pakistain has rejected US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's ...current SecDef, previously Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Panetta served as President Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997 and was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1993.... recent allegations regarding beturbanned goons as "safe havens" in its territory, a move that could intensify tensions between the two troubled allies. "We feel that the Secretary of Defense is oversimplifying some of the very complex issues we are all dealing with in our efforts against extremism and terrorism," Pakistain's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. "We strongly believe that such statements are misplaced and unhelpful in bringing about peace and stability in the region," the statement added. On Thursday, Panetta said stabilization efforts in Afghanistan would be difficult as long as beturbanned goons have safe havens in Pakistain. "It is very important for Pakistain to take steps. It is an increasing concern, the issue of safe haven, and we are reaching the limits of our patience," Panetta said. The foreign ministry added that Islamabad will "follow its own timeline" and strategy on operations against beturbanned goons and "will not allow its territory to be used against any country, nor will it allow any safe havens on its territory." The Pakistain-US relations experienced particularly serious strains in 2011 after a CIA contractor killed two Paks and a US team infiltrated the Pak territory under the pretext of killing al-Qaeda chief the late Osama bin Laden. ... who has made the transition back to dust... This was topped by US air strikes in November which killed 24 Pak soldiers at two army outposts on the Afghan border. The last incident prompted Islamabad to shut down supply routes to US-led foreign military forces in Afghanistan. Posted by: Fred 2012-06-10 |
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