But the head of the Homeland Security delegation, Michael McCaul, downplayed the significance of the remarks, saying it was unclear whether President
Asif Ali President Ten PercentZardari
... sticky-fingered husband of the late Benazir Bhutto ...
had the power to make good on his pledge, given the influence of the military in Pakistain.
According to McCaul, Zardari also appeared to brush off threats that US aid spending to Pakistain could be significantly cut if Islamabad did not do more to squeeze bully boyz like the Haqqanis, who are based in northwest Pakistain but attack US and Afghan troops in Afghanistan.
"I think he thinks it's a given that we are going to continue the aid, but I tried to tell him that it's in jeopardy," McCaul, a Republican congressman from Texas, said of Zardari. "He said, 'I appreciate your assistance, but it's trade more than aid that I need."'
McCaul and the visiting politicians met with Zardari in the Pak port city of Bloody Karachi on Tuesday, and revealed details of his conversation later the same day.
Relations between the United States and Pakistain have plummeted over the last year following the shooting deaths of two Paks by a CIA contractor and the American unilateral raid that killed the late Osama bin Laden
... who is now beyond all cares and woe...
in May.
Persistent allegations that Pak security forces are aiding or tolerating Afghan bully boyz have led many US politicians to call for cuts in the billions of dollars in aid given to Pakistain.
The Haqqani network is an al-Qaeda linked orc group with roots in eastern Afghanistan that has long been based in the Pak border region of North Wazoo. US and NATO...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization....
officials say it is currently the most deadly foe in Afghanistan.
The problem is especially acute because Washington is committed to withdrawing most of its combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Seeing the country fall back into the hands of the Taliban or descend into bloody civil war would be a crushing failure for Washington.
The US has been applying steady pressure on Pakistain to tackle the Haqqanis, but with little effect.
"The president, on the record, said 'I am going to work with you to eradicate them,"' McCaul said. He further quoted Zardari as saying: "I know these people very well, they are snakes and I'm going to go after all of them."
McCaul said he welcomed the president's statement, but "the real question is how much does this president control the military" and the country's spy service.
Zardari heads a democratically elected civilian government, but the military, which has ruled Pakistain for much of its existence, does not follow his orders when it comes to Afghan policy and other defense issues.
McCaul said the American delegation asked to meet the Mighty Pak Army and spy chiefs, but this was not possible.
The Pak military views neighboring India, and not cut-throats at home, as the country's biggest threat and sees Afghanistan through that lens. Consequently, Islamabad is widely believed to be reluctant to move against the Haqqanis because it sees them as potential allies against Indian influence in Afghanistan when America withdraws.
In talks late last month with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
... sometimes described as
For a good time at 3 a.m. call Hillaryand at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as
Another Charles Evans Hughes...
and other American officials, Mighty Pak Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani
... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI...
recognized the need to "squeeze the Haqqanis," a senior US official said at the time, speaking on condition of anonymity
... for fear of being murdered...
because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Greater intelligence sharing, cutting financing networks and stopping fighters from crossing the border were discussed, he said.