The United States<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-seeks-real-action-from-pakistan-on-taliban-haqqani-network-36116"> has ruled out the possibility of </a>&quot;hot pursuit&quot; to pursue the Taliban into Pakistan.

Lt Col Mike Andrews, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-drone-strike-kills-taliban-deputy-commander-3-haqqani-network-militants-32314">spokesman for the Department of </a>Defence said &quot;US military forces will remain within the borders of Afghanistan only.&quot;

The Pentagon official said US&nbsp;forces do not have the &quot;authority&quot;&nbsp;to cross over to Pakistan from the Afghan border.

&quot;To be clear, US military authorities are within the borders of Afghanistan only. We have no authority to go into Pakistan. If there is a way to get that authority, but that would certainly be the exception and not the norm and would not be,&quot; Lt Col Mike Andrews said.

Pakistan is under increasing pressure by the US to track down and eliminate the Taliban militants in its territory including the Haqqani Network, a strategy laid down by President Trump.

&quot;Say, for example, we have troops in contact and then the Taliban militants go across the border. They are clearly inside Pakistan then. There&#39;s no change with regards to respecting the territorial sovereignty of Pakistan,&quot; Andrews declared.

&quot;If the Taliban reside in Pakistan and we are able to provide safety and support and to help secure districts and provinces within the borders of Afghanistan, I think that that is a tradeoff that we&#39;re willing to make,&quot; Andrews said, adding, &quot;Because it&#39;s not necessarily about these people over in Pakistan, its about the Afghan people.&quot;

 
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Lt Col Mike Andrews, spokesman for the Department of Defence said "US military forces will remain within the borders of Afghanistan only."

The United States has ruled out the possibility of "hot pursuit" to pursue the Taliban into Pakistan. Lt Col Mike Andrews, spokesman for the Department of Defence said "US military forces will remain within the borders of Afghanistan only." The Pentagon official said US forces do not have the "authority" to cross over to Pakistan from the Afghan border. "To be clear, US military authorities are within the borders of Afghanistan only. We have no authority to go into Pakistan. If there is a way to get that authority, but that would certainly be the exception and not the norm and would not be," Lt Col Mike Andrews said. Pakistan is under increasing pressure by the US to track down and eliminate the Taliban militants in its territory including the Haqqani Network, a strategy laid down by President Trump. "Say, for example, we have troops in contact and then the Taliban militants go across the border. They are clearly inside Pakistan then. There's no change with regards to respecting the territorial sovereignty of Pakistan," Andrews declared. "If the Taliban reside in Pakistan and we are able to provide safety and support and to help secure districts and provinces within the borders of Afghanistan, I think that that is a tradeoff that we're willing to make," Andrews said, adding, "Because it's not necessarily about these people over in Pakistan, its about the Afghan people."

US military won't cross border from Afghanistan into Pak to pursue Taliban: Pentagon

The Pentagon said <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-seeks-real-action-from-pakistan-on-taliban-haqqani-network-36116">today that it won&#39;t resume security aid</a> to Pakistan until it addresses US concerns on terror safe havens.

&quot;The US government <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-providing-covert-support-to-taliban-35966">has been very honest and open both publicly</a> and privately with Pakistan on the things that they need to address before we can move forward with the resumption of the aid that has been suspended,&quot; Lt Col Mike Andrews, a spokesperson of the Department of Defence told PTI.

Mike Andrews had recently visited Afganistan with US defense secretary James Mattis last week to review security in the region.

&quot;I won&#39;t get into real specifics. The sanctuaries inside of Pakistan where were Taliban fighters can go over the border, can attack and come back and be safe,&quot; Andrews said, adding,&quot;So if Pakistan does this, it would be good for Pakistan, Afghanistan, good for India, be good for the entire region.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;That&#39;s what we want...a safe and secure region where terrorists cannot launch attacks like 9/11 or launch attacks into Europe or into India,&quot; he asserted.

In an attempt to keep the pressure on Pakistan, US Vice President Mike Pence had recently told&nbsp;Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that his country &quot;must do more&quot; against the Taliban and other militants as the relations between the two nations continued to on the boil.

The US government had suspended $1.5 security assistance to Pakistan in January accusing the Abbassi-led government of providing safe havens to Taliban and the Haqqani Network.

&quot;The US government has been very honest and open both publicly and privately with Pakistan on the things that they need to address before we can move forward with the resumption of the aid that has been suspended,&quot; Lt Col Mike Andrews said.

 
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Mike Andrews recently visited Afganistan with US defense secretary James Mattis last week to review security in the region.

The Pentagon said today that it won't resume security aid to Pakistan until it addresses US concerns on terror safe havens. "The US government has been very honest and open both publicly and privately with Pakistan on the things that they need to address before we can move forward with the resumption of the aid that has been suspended," Lt Col Mike Andrews, a spokesperson of the Department of Defence told PTI. Mike Andrews had recently visited Afganistan with US defense secretary James Mattis last week to review security in the region. "I won't get into real specifics. The sanctuaries inside of Pakistan where were Taliban fighters can go over the border, can attack and come back and be safe," Andrews said, adding,"So if Pakistan does this, it would be good for Pakistan, Afghanistan, good for India, be good for the entire region." "That's what we want...a safe and secure region where terrorists cannot launch attacks like 9/11 or launch attacks into Europe or into India," he asserted. In an attempt to keep the pressure on Pakistan, US Vice President Mike Pence had recently told Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that his country "must do more" against the Taliban and other militants as the relations between the two nations continued to on the boil. The US government had suspended $1.5 security assistance to Pakistan in January accusing the Abbassi-led government of providing safe havens to Taliban and the Haqqani Network. "The US government has been very honest and open both publicly and privately with Pakistan on the things that they need to address before we can move forward with the resumption of the aid that has been suspended," Lt Col Mike Andrews said.

No resumption of security aid until Pak addresses terror concerns: US

The United States has not yet seen Pakistan take &quot;the kind of decisive and irreversible action&quot; Washington had asked for to help with the war in Afghanistan, a senior US administration official said on Friday.

The official said Pakistan had not taken &quot;real action&quot; to clamp down on the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network militant groups and had only done the &quot;bare minimum to appear responsive to our requests.&quot;

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday said he has seen some positive signs from Islamabad, including Pakistani military operations along the border - and the senior administration official agreed.

&quot;I think the Pakistanis have wanted to appear responsive to our requests,&quot; the senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

&quot;What I would say is, they have done the bare minimum to appear responsive to our requests,&quot; the official said, saying more proactive steps were needed.

US officials have told their Pakistani counterparts what types of actions are needed to lift the suspension of aid, the official said, declining to elaborate on the specifics.

&quot;We are prepared to take steps that we think are necessary to safeguard US personnel and interests in the region,&quot; the official said, declining comment on what those steps would be, and on deadlines for action.

&quot;We are continuing to look for real action, not just words, from Pakistan on the Taliban and Haqqani sanctuaries,&quot; the official said.

The Trump administration, which had suspended about $2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan in January, has been frustrated by what it sees as Pakistan&#39;s reluctance to act against the Afghan Taliban and the affiliated Haqqani network.&nbsp;

Washington believes the groups use Pakistan as a safe haven for launching attacks on neighbouring Afghanistan. Pakistan denies helping the militants.

The United States has been at war in Afghanistan since 2001, making it America&#39;s longest military conflict.&nbsp;

In August, President Donald Trump agreed to a stepped-up military campaign against the Taliban, and has since increased pressure on Pakistan to help.

(With inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The United States has not yet seen Pakistan take 'the kind of decisive and irreversible action' Washington had asked for to help with the war in Afghanistan, a senior US administration official said

The United States has not yet seen Pakistan take "the kind of decisive and irreversible action" Washington had asked for to help with the war in Afghanistan, a senior US administration official said on Friday. The official said Pakistan had not taken "real action" to clamp down on the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network militant groups and had only done the "bare minimum to appear responsive to our requests." US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday said he has seen some positive signs from Islamabad, including Pakistani military operations along the border - and the senior administration official agreed. "I think the Pakistanis have wanted to appear responsive to our requests," the senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "What I would say is, they have done the bare minimum to appear responsive to our requests," the official said, saying more proactive steps were needed. US officials have told their Pakistani counterparts what types of actions are needed to lift the suspension of aid, the official said, declining to elaborate on the specifics. "We are prepared to take steps that we think are necessary to safeguard US personnel and interests in the region," the official said, declining comment on what those steps would be, and on deadlines for action. "We are continuing to look for real action, not just words, from Pakistan on the Taliban and Haqqani sanctuaries," the official said. The Trump administration, which had suspended about $2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan in January, has been frustrated by what it sees as Pakistan's reluctance to act against the Afghan Taliban and the affiliated Haqqani network. Washington believes the groups use Pakistan as a safe haven for launching attacks on neighbouring Afghanistan. Pakistan denies helping the militants. The United States has been at war in Afghanistan since 2001, making it America's longest military conflict. In August, President Donald Trump agreed to a stepped-up military campaign against the Taliban, and has since increased pressure on Pakistan to help. (With inputs from Reuters)

US seeks 'real action' from Pakistan on Taliban, Haqqani network

The three principal characters in Afghanistan theatre &ndash; the government, Taliban and the United States &ndash; are in favour of talks to end the more than 16-year-old bloody war. But so deep runs the suspicion that the dominant parties do not want to enter into a direct dialogue. The Taliban is ready to talk to the United States but is opposed to dialogue with President Ashraf Ghani government. The US, on the other hand, does not want direct talks with the Taliban. It wants the Taliban to hold talks with the &ldquo;legitimate&rdquo; Afghanistan government. President Ghani has once again reiterated his government&rsquo;s desire to hold talks with Taliban, but the militant organisation is not amused. So, where does that lead to?

The US, which has renewed its offensive on the Taliban in recent months after President Donald Trump committed to an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan in August last year, would not like to be seen as surrendering and admitting defeat if it were to hold talks with the Taliban. In a marked departure from his call during presidential electioneering for an early US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Trump has sent more troops in recent months as he vowed &ldquo;a fight to win&rdquo; when he unveiled his administration&rsquo;s strategy for the war-torn country. President Trump stands to invite ridicule if his administration jumps the gun and enters into a direct dialogue with the Taliban at this stage. Therefore, the US wants Afghanistan to do the bidding on its behalf. &nbsp;

President Ghani knows too well that the US forces would not be there forever as there is increasing pressure from the families of the American soldiers and the people to make an early exit from Afghanistan. Since 2001, when the Taliban were dislodged from power, the Afghan war has cost 2,400 American lives and $1 trillion. Ghani has gone on record admitting that the Afghan National Army will not last more than six months if the US were to withdraw its forces. He even feared the collapse of the government. Aware of this danger, President Ghani is desperate to start negotiations with the Taliban. By offering to recognise the Taliban as a legitimate political group, proposing a ceasefire and release of prisoners and holding &ldquo;unconditional&rdquo; talks, shows his desperation.

The Taliban, which is facing an onslaught from the US forces, wants an early ceasefire to have a much-needed breather. Since last year, it has lost several of its top commanders besides a large number of foot soldiers. It smells twin advantages if talks with the US became a reality. Not only will it escape the intensified fury, it will put the US on the back foot. For the Taliban, it will be a win-win solution as it will enter into dialogue with an upper hand. If the dialogue reaches its logical conclusion, it stands a chance to be accepted as a political group and who knows return to power. But if talks collapse, it will have enough time to recoup and recalibrate its strategy. Moreover, the Taliban does not consider Ghani government as a powerful adversary which it can easily run over in the event of US troop withdrawal.

It remains to be seen if all the major parties are prepared to shift their stance. And even if they do, the chances of an early solution look unlikely as long as Pakistan does not relinquish its support to groups like the Haqqani network.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

President Ghani is desperate to start negotiations with the Taliban by offering to recognise the Taliban as a legitimate political group, proposing a ceasefire and release of prisoners and holding “unconditional” talks.

The three principal characters in Afghanistan theatre – the government, Taliban and the United States – are in favour of talks to end the more than 16-year-old bloody war. But so deep runs the suspicion that the dominant parties do not want to enter into a direct dialogue. The Taliban is ready to talk to the United States but is opposed to dialogue with President Ashraf Ghani government. The US, on the other hand, does not want direct talks with the Taliban. It wants the Taliban to hold talks with the “legitimate” Afghanistan government. President Ghani has once again reiterated his government’s desire to hold talks with Taliban, but the militant organisation is not amused. So, where does that lead to? The US, which has renewed its offensive on the Taliban in recent months after President Donald Trump committed to an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan in August last year, would not like to be seen as surrendering and admitting defeat if it were to hold talks with the Taliban. In a marked departure from his call during presidential electioneering for an early US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Trump has sent more troops in recent months as he vowed “a fight to win” when he unveiled his administration’s strategy for the war-torn country. President Trump stands to invite ridicule if his administration jumps the gun and enters into a direct dialogue with the Taliban at this stage. Therefore, the US wants Afghanistan to do the bidding on its behalf. President Ghani knows too well that the US forces would not be there forever as there is increasing pressure from the families of the American soldiers and the people to make an early exit from Afghanistan. Since 2001, when the Taliban were dislodged from power, the Afghan war has cost 2,400 American lives and $1 trillion. Ghani has gone on record admitting that the Afghan National Army will not last more than six months if the US were to withdraw its forces. He even feared the collapse of the government. Aware of this danger, President Ghani is desperate to start negotiations with the Taliban. By offering to recognise the Taliban as a legitimate political group, proposing a ceasefire and release of prisoners and holding “unconditional” talks, shows his desperation. The Taliban, which is facing an onslaught from the US forces, wants an early ceasefire to have a much-needed breather. Since last year, it has lost several of its top commanders besides a large number of foot soldiers. It smells twin advantages if talks with the US became a reality. Not only will it escape the intensified fury, it will put the US on the back foot. For the Taliban, it will be a win-win solution as it will enter into dialogue with an upper hand. If the dialogue reaches its logical conclusion, it stands a chance to be accepted as a political group and who knows return to power. But if talks collapse, it will have enough time to recoup and recalibrate its strategy. Moreover, the Taliban does not consider Ghani government as a powerful adversary which it can easily run over in the event of US troop withdrawal. It remains to be seen if all the major parties are prepared to shift their stance. And even if they do, the chances of an early solution look unlikely as long as Pakistan does not relinquish its support to groups like the Haqqani network. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Afghanistan wants peace with Taliban but will it come?

Pakistan need not kill or capture militants such as members of the Haqqani network that use its territory to launch attacks in Afghanistan but could push them across the border instead, a senior US&nbsp;official said on Friday.

Evicting the militants would put them at risk of attack from Afghan and US&nbsp;forces trying to keep Afghanistan from becoming a launching pad for strikes on the West more than 16 years after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

The United States is pressuring Pakistan to cease providing sanctuary - which it denies giving - to Islamist militants unleashing chaos in neighboring Afghanistan.

On January 4, Washington said it would suspend some security aid to Islamabad to get it to end support for the Afghan Taliban and the allied Haqqani network whose attacks in Afghanistan have killed US, Afghan, and other forces.

The senior US&nbsp;official said in an interview that since the aid suspension - which US&nbsp;officials later said could affect as much as about $2 billion - the United States has not seen any sustained Pakistani effort against the militants.

In the latest US-led push to spur Pakistani action, a global money-laundering watchdog decided to put the country back on its terrorist financing watch list, a Pakistani government official and a diplomat told Reuters in Islamabad.

The US&nbsp;official dismissed suggestions pressure from Washington may backfire and suggested that Pakistan might start by taking smaller, tactical steps, including forcing such groups into Afghanistan before the spring fighting season begins.

&quot;I don&rsquo;t think Pakistan is feeling its oats. I think it`s feeling pressure,&quot; said the US&nbsp;official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. &quot;We have their attention.&quot;

The official said the United States did not have a specific timeline to assess Pakistani cooperation and would be looking to see if Islamabad would take &quot;tactical steps&quot; such as &quot;actions against ... (the) Haqqanis, pushing them across the border.

&quot;They don&rsquo;t have to arrest them or kill them ... just get them into Afghanistan, disrupt some of the infrastructure that exists, make it harder for them,&quot; the official added. &quot;We are about two months away from the fighting season, so now is the time to do some of this.&quot;

Some in the US&nbsp;government doubt Pakistan will comply.

In a February 13 statement to Congress, US&nbsp;Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said Pakistan would maintain &quot;its ties with militant groups, restricting counter-terrorism cooperation&quot; with the United States.

Pakistan need not kill or capture militants such as members of the Haqqani network that use its territory to launch attacks in Afghanistan but could push them across the border instead, a senior US official said on Friday

Pakistan need not kill or capture militants such as members of the Haqqani network that use its territory to launch attacks in Afghanistan but could push them across the border instead, a senior US official said on Friday. Evicting the militants would put them at risk of attack from Afghan and US forces trying to keep Afghanistan from becoming a launching pad for strikes on the West more than 16 years after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. The United States is pressuring Pakistan to cease providing sanctuary - which it denies giving - to Islamist militants unleashing chaos in neighboring Afghanistan. On January 4, Washington said it would suspend some security aid to Islamabad to get it to end support for the Afghan Taliban and the allied Haqqani network whose attacks in Afghanistan have killed US, Afghan, and other forces. The senior US official said in an interview that since the aid suspension - which US officials later said could affect as much as about $2 billion - the United States has not seen any sustained Pakistani effort against the militants. In the latest US-led push to spur Pakistani action, a global money-laundering watchdog decided to put the country back on its terrorist financing watch list, a Pakistani government official and a diplomat told Reuters in Islamabad. The US official dismissed suggestions pressure from Washington may backfire and suggested that Pakistan might start by taking smaller, tactical steps, including forcing such groups into Afghanistan before the spring fighting season begins. "I don’t think Pakistan is feeling its oats. I think it`s feeling pressure," said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We have their attention." The official said the United States did not have a specific timeline to assess Pakistani cooperation and would be looking to see if Islamabad would take "tactical steps" such as "actions against ... (the) Haqqanis, pushing them across the border. "They don’t have to arrest them or kill them ... just get them into Afghanistan, disrupt some of the infrastructure that exists, make it harder for them," the official added. "We are about two months away from the fighting season, so now is the time to do some of this." Some in the US government doubt Pakistan will comply. In a February 13 statement to Congress, US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said Pakistan would maintain "its ties with militant groups, restricting counter-terrorism cooperation" with the United States.

Pakistan could evict, rather than kill, militants: US official

At least three suspected terrorists of the Haqqani network were killed on Wednesday in a suspected US drone strike in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan.

The drone strikes, carried out by US spy planes, targeted the house belonging to Afghan refugees, the report said.

Two missiles hit a house and killed Taliban-allied Haqqani network commander Ehsan alias Khawari and his two companions in the Dappa Mamazoi area.&nbsp;

Local sources belonging to the Orakzai Agency said that the strike was carried out on the Haqqani Network hideout.

Last week, two other militants were also killed in a drone strike in Shanqilay area of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

There has been a slight uptick in US drone strikes inside Pakistan in the mountainous border regions bordering Afghanistan since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, though they are a long way off their peak in 2010.

Pakistan has repeatedly said that drone strikes on its soil are a violation of its sovereignty and denies the charge, saying it acts against militants without discrimination.

Two missiles hit a house and killed Taliban-allied Haqqani network commander Ehsan alias Khawari and his two companions in the Dappa Mamazoi area

At least three suspected terrorists of the Haqqani network were killed on Wednesday in a suspected US drone strike in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. The drone strikes, carried out by US spy planes, targeted the house belonging to Afghan refugees, the report said. Two missiles hit a house and killed Taliban-allied Haqqani network commander Ehsan alias Khawari and his two companions in the Dappa Mamazoi area. Local sources belonging to the Orakzai Agency said that the strike was carried out on the Haqqani Network hideout. Last week, two other militants were also killed in a drone strike in Shanqilay area of Afghanistan. There has been a slight uptick in US drone strikes inside Pakistan in the mountainous border regions bordering Afghanistan since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, though they are a long way off their peak in 2010. Pakistan has repeatedly said that drone strikes on its soil are a violation of its sovereignty and denies the charge, saying it acts against militants without discrimination.

US drone strike kills Haqqani network commander, 2 others in Pakistan

India on Sunday strongly condemned the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/gunfire-and-explosions-rock-kabul-hotel-as-siege-draws-to-an-end-30232" target="_blank">terrorist attack on the Intercontinental Hotel</a> in Kabul, which claimed 18 lives.&quot;We express our sincere condolences to the families of those killed in this heinous attack and wish speedy recovery to the injured,&quot; the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

&quot;Reports about attack having being carried out by terrorists of internationally proscribed Haqqani Network are a matter of serious concern and bring to fore once again the need to effectively deal with safe havens and sanctuaries that these terrorists find in our shared neighbourhood,&quot; the statement added.

Furthermore, India expressed solidarity with Afghanistan in bringing the perpetrators of these terrorist attacks and their supporters to justice.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pray-for-me-kabul-hotel-guests-plea-during-bloody-siege-30234" target="_blank">&#39;Pray for me,&#39;&nbsp;Kabul hotel guest says during bloody siege</a>

Gunmen stormed the heavily-guarded hotel located on a hilltop in the Bagh-e Bala area late on Saturday setting off a gun battle with security forces that continued into Sunday morning.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday condemned the attack and called for regional and international cooperation against terrorism.

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah also condemned the attack and commended security forces for saving people trapped inside the hotel during the attack. &quot;I commend the Afghan Forces for their bravery and professional action of rescuing over 100 civilians and killing all terrorists in the insane attack on Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. I condemn the attack and condole with the victim families,&quot; Abdullah wrote on Twitter.

According to Interior Ministry spokesperson Najib Danish, around 100 guests and staffers were rescued, of which 16 of them were foreign nationals.

He said all those who had died or were wounded had been Afghan nationals. The Interior Ministry also dismissed reports of a hostage situation.The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack comes just days after the US embassy in Kabul issued a warning about possible attacks on hotels in the city.&nbsp;&nbsp;

'We express our sincere condolences to the families of those killed in this heinous attack and wish speedy recovery to the injured,' the Ministry of External Affairs said

India on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, which claimed 18 lives."We express our sincere condolences to the families of those killed in this heinous attack and wish speedy recovery to the injured," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. "Reports about attack having being carried out by terrorists of internationally proscribed Haqqani Network are a matter of serious concern and bring to fore once again the need to effectively deal with safe havens and sanctuaries that these terrorists find in our shared neighbourhood," the statement added. Furthermore, India expressed solidarity with Afghanistan in bringing the perpetrators of these terrorist attacks and their supporters to justice. Also read: 'Pray for me,' Kabul hotel guest says during bloody siege Gunmen stormed the heavily-guarded hotel located on a hilltop in the Bagh-e Bala area late on Saturday setting off a gun battle with security forces that continued into Sunday morning. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday condemned the attack and called for regional and international cooperation against terrorism. Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah also condemned the attack and commended security forces for saving people trapped inside the hotel during the attack. "I commend the Afghan Forces for their bravery and professional action of rescuing over 100 civilians and killing all terrorists in the insane attack on Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. I condemn the attack and condole with the victim families," Abdullah wrote on Twitter. According to Interior Ministry spokesperson Najib Danish, around 100 guests and staffers were rescued, of which 16 of them were foreign nationals. He said all those who had died or were wounded had been Afghan nationals. The Interior Ministry also dismissed reports of a hostage situation.The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack comes just days after the US embassy in Kabul issued a warning about possible attacks on hotels in the city.

India condemns Kabul hotel attack

The United States is confident that the Haqqani network was behind the Taliban&#39;s Saturday ambulance bomb in Kabul that killed more than 100 people, officials say, a conclusion that could add friction to ties between Washington and Islamabad.

The United States has long blamed militant safe havens in Pakistan for prolonging the war in Afghanistan, giving insurgents from the Haqqani network a place to plot attacks and rebuild their forces.

&quot;We are very confident the Taliban Haqqani network was behind the killing of more than 103 people this past Saturday,&quot; said Captain Tom Gresback, a US military spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, without elaborating further on US intelligence or offering any link to Pakistan.

Another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said the United States believed the attack was the work of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network, which Washington and Kabul have long accused of being behind some of the Afghanistan&#39;s most deadly attacks.

Afghanistan&#39;s envoy to the United Nations, Mahmoud Saikal, on Monday suggested the plot was too complex for the Taliban to have developed on their own.

&quot;Given the degree of sophistication ... can you expect an illiterate Taliban to come up with this kind of genius plot, using ambulances?&quot; Saikal said in an interview, adding Kabul was still gathering information.

&quot;It&#39;s not a simple thing to do.&quot;

Saturday&#39;s blast, claimed by the Taliban, was the deadliest since 150 people were killed in a huge truck bomb explosion last May near the German embassy, which US officials also blamed on the Haqqani network.

It followed another Taliban-claimed attack a week earlier that killed more than 20 people in a siege of the city&#39;s Intercontinental Hotel.

On Monday, militants raided a military academy in Kabul, the Afghan capital, killing 11 soldiers. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack near the Marshal Fahim military academy on the city&#39;s western outskirts.

The attacks have put pressure on President Ashraf Ghani and his US allies, who have expressed growing confidence that a new, more aggressive military strategy has succeeded in driving Taliban insurgents back from major provincial centres.

Pakistan role

Ties between the United States and Pakistan are already brittle after Washington announced plans earlier in January to suspend up to roughly $2 billion in US security assistance. US President Donald Trump tweeted that Pakistan had rewarded past US aid with &quot;nothing but lies &amp; deceit.&quot;

Pakistan, which denies the accusations it allows safe havens for militants, condemned Saturday&#39;s attack and accused Washington of betrayal.

As tensions rise, the United States has been quietly examining ways to mitigate any retaliation by Pakistan, a crucial gateway for US military supplies destined for troops fighting the 16-year-old war in landlocked Afghanistan.

It also has not ruled out additional steps, including unilateral strikes in Pakistan against Haqqani targets.

Saikal renewed the longstanding Afghan concern that the plots for these attacks were coming from Pakistan and cheered Trump&#39;s rejection on Monday of the possibility of peace talks with the Taliban.

&quot;We hope the fight also includes focus on where the terrorist attacks are plotted and organised,&quot; he said in an interview.

'Given the degree of sophistication ... can you expect an illiterate Taliban to come up with this kind of genius plot, using ambulances' said

The United States is confident that the Haqqani network was behind the Taliban's Saturday ambulance bomb in Kabul that killed more than 100 people, officials say, a conclusion that could add friction to ties between Washington and Islamabad. The United States has long blamed militant safe havens in Pakistan for prolonging the war in Afghanistan, giving insurgents from the Haqqani network a place to plot attacks and rebuild their forces. "We are very confident the Taliban Haqqani network was behind the killing of more than 103 people this past Saturday," said Captain Tom Gresback, a US military spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, without elaborating further on US intelligence or offering any link to Pakistan. Another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said the United States believed the attack was the work of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network, which Washington and Kabul have long accused of being behind some of the Afghanistan's most deadly attacks. Afghanistan's envoy to the United Nations, Mahmoud Saikal, on Monday suggested the plot was too complex for the Taliban to have developed on their own. "Given the degree of sophistication ... can you expect an illiterate Taliban to come up with this kind of genius plot, using ambulances?" Saikal said in an interview, adding Kabul was still gathering information. "It's not a simple thing to do." Saturday's blast, claimed by the Taliban, was the deadliest since 150 people were killed in a huge truck bomb explosion last May near the German embassy, which US officials also blamed on the Haqqani network. It followed another Taliban-claimed attack a week earlier that killed more than 20 people in a siege of the city's Intercontinental Hotel. On Monday, militants raided a military academy in Kabul, the Afghan capital, killing 11 soldiers. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack near the Marshal Fahim military academy on the city's western outskirts. The attacks have put pressure on President Ashraf Ghani and his US allies, who have expressed growing confidence that a new, more aggressive military strategy has succeeded in driving Taliban insurgents back from major provincial centres. Pakistan role Ties between the United States and Pakistan are already brittle after Washington announced plans earlier in January to suspend up to roughly $2 billion in US security assistance. US President Donald Trump tweeted that Pakistan had rewarded past US aid with "nothing but lies & deceit." Pakistan, which denies the accusations it allows safe havens for militants, condemned Saturday's attack and accused Washington of betrayal. As tensions rise, the United States has been quietly examining ways to mitigate any retaliation by Pakistan, a crucial gateway for US military supplies destined for troops fighting the 16-year-old war in landlocked Afghanistan. It also has not ruled out additional steps, including unilateral strikes in Pakistan against Haqqani targets. Saikal renewed the longstanding Afghan concern that the plots for these attacks were coming from Pakistan and cheered Trump's rejection on Monday of the possibility of peace talks with the Taliban. "We hope the fight also includes focus on where the terrorist attacks are plotted and organised," he said in an interview.

US sees Haqqani network behind ambulance bombing in Kabul

The US is keeping &quot;all options&quot; on the table to deal with Pakistan if it does not take decisive action against the Taliban and the Haqqani network and dismantle their safe havens, the White House warned today.

The warning came after the US suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to Pakistan for failing to clamp down on terror groups.

The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes after President Donald Trump in a New Year&#39;s Day tweet accused the country of giving nothing to the US but &quot;lies and deceit&quot; and providing

&quot;safe haven&quot; to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years.

&quot;The US does have a range of tools that we&#39;re looking at beyond just the security assistance issue to deal with Pakistan and to try to convince it to crack down on the Taliban and Haqqani network,&quot; a senior Trump administration official told reporters.

&quot;Certainly no one should doubt the US resolve to address this threat and all options I would say will be on the table,&quot; said the official on condition of anonymity.

While some policymakers have been asking the White House to revoke the non-NATO ally status of Pakistan and put pressure on the country through multilateral institutions like the International

Monetary Fund and the United Nations, Pentagon generals have indicated unilateral actions.

However, the official refrained from divulging any of the options that the administration is considering against Pakistan.

&quot;I&#39;m not able to comment on specific steps at this time. But nobody should doubt our resolve in trying to address these threats. We&#39;re looking at all options. We hope that we can cooperate with Pakistan.

But we do have options that we&#39;re considering,&quot; the official said.

The US wants action against the existing safe havens of the Taliban and the Haqqani network and demolish its ability to carry out strikes across the border in Afghanistan, the Official said and expressed hope that Pakistan would take actions that the US was seeking.

&quot;....That will allow the relationship to return to a more positive trajectory,&quot; the official said.

In August, while unveiling his new South Asia strategy, Trump had accused Pakistan of giving &quot;safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror,&quot; and said the time had come &quot;for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilisation, order, and to peace&quot;.

Trump&#39;s new policy, the official said, is driven by his desire to have a successful strategy in Afghanistan.

&quot;We firmly believes that for the future of the region, Pakistan needs to crack down on these terrorist elements. Unless they take a comprehensive approach to the terrorism problem it is going to threaten

US interests and everybody&#39;s interests including Pakistan&#39;s,&quot; the official said.

He said the announcement of the suspension of the security assistance to Pakistan clearly reflected the US&#39; frustration over Pakistan&#39;s failure to crack down on all terrorists who find shelter on its territory.

&quot;There has been ample time for Pakistan to show it is taking our request seriously. Unfortunately, we have not seen the kind of meaningful action that we were seeking,&quot; the White House official rued.

Responding to a question, the official said the US has &quot;a number of tools in its toolkit&quot; and can &quot;take unilateral&quot; steps.

But at this time, the US prefers to cooperate with Pakistan and is hopeful about it, the official said.

&quot;And we want to indicate Pakistan our seriousness about the issue of dealing with safe havens,&quot; the official said.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said the US would restore the suspended security assistance to Pakistan if it takes action against terrorist groups.

&quot;We would restore the aid if we see decisive movements against the terrorists, who are as much of a threat against Pakistan as they are against us,&quot; Mattis told reporters.

The US is still working with Pakistan, he said but refrained from going into details.

&quot;The specific individual things we&#39;re doing our best handled in private, to ensure that we can be most productive. And that&#39;s what we&#39;re working now,&quot; he said.

Mattis had travelled to Pakistan last month for talks with the top Pakistani leadership.

&quot;There&#39;s a campaign plan now that starts regionally. So we started thinking about India and Pakistan and Afghanistan. We reinforced some of our forces there, because we found some forces didn&#39;t have the American advisers they needed, and the ones with advisers seemed to always win. The ones without them did not fare so well,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The warning came after the US suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to Pakistan for failing to clamp down on terror groups

The US is keeping "all options" on the table to deal with Pakistan if it does not take decisive action against the Taliban and the Haqqani network and dismantle their safe havens, the White House warned today. The warning came after the US suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to Pakistan for failing to clamp down on terror groups. The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes after President Donald Trump in a New Year's Day tweet accused the country of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years. "The US does have a range of tools that we're looking at beyond just the security assistance issue to deal with Pakistan and to try to convince it to crack down on the Taliban and Haqqani network," a senior Trump administration official told reporters. "Certainly no one should doubt the US resolve to address this threat and all options I would say will be on the table," said the official on condition of anonymity. While some policymakers have been asking the White House to revoke the non-NATO ally status of Pakistan and put pressure on the country through multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations, Pentagon generals have indicated unilateral actions. However, the official refrained from divulging any of the options that the administration is considering against Pakistan. "I'm not able to comment on specific steps at this time. But nobody should doubt our resolve in trying to address these threats. We're looking at all options. We hope that we can cooperate with Pakistan. But we do have options that we're considering," the official said. The US wants action against the existing safe havens of the Taliban and the Haqqani network and demolish its ability to carry out strikes across the border in Afghanistan, the Official said and expressed hope that Pakistan would take actions that the US was seeking. "....That will allow the relationship to return to a more positive trajectory," the official said. In August, while unveiling his new South Asia strategy, Trump had accused Pakistan of giving "safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror," and said the time had come "for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilisation, order, and to peace". Trump's new policy, the official said, is driven by his desire to have a successful strategy in Afghanistan. "We firmly believes that for the future of the region, Pakistan needs to crack down on these terrorist elements. Unless they take a comprehensive approach to the terrorism problem it is going to threaten US interests and everybody's interests including Pakistan's," the official said. He said the announcement of the suspension of the security assistance to Pakistan clearly reflected the US' frustration over Pakistan's failure to crack down on all terrorists who find shelter on its territory. "There has been ample time for Pakistan to show it is taking our request seriously. Unfortunately, we have not seen the kind of meaningful action that we were seeking," the White House official rued. Responding to a question, the official said the US has "a number of tools in its toolkit" and can "take unilateral" steps. But at this time, the US prefers to cooperate with Pakistan and is hopeful about it, the official said. "And we want to indicate Pakistan our seriousness about the issue of dealing with safe havens," the official said. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said the US would restore the suspended security assistance to Pakistan if it takes action against terrorist groups. "We would restore the aid if we see decisive movements against the terrorists, who are as much of a threat against Pakistan as they are against us," Mattis told reporters. The US is still working with Pakistan, he said but refrained from going into details. "The specific individual things we're doing our best handled in private, to ensure that we can be most productive. And that's what we're working now," he said. Mattis had travelled to Pakistan last month for talks with the top Pakistani leadership. "There's a campaign plan now that starts regionally. So we started thinking about India and Pakistan and Afghanistan. We reinforced some of our forces there, because we found some forces didn't have the American advisers they needed, and the ones with advisers seemed to always win. The ones without them did not fare so well," he said.

All options on the table to deal with Pakistan: White House

The US has suspended more than US$1.15 billion security assistance to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of harbouring terror groups like the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network within its border and showing unwillingness to take &quot;decisive actions&quot; against them.

The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes days after President Donald Trump in a new year tweet accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but &quot;lies and deceit&quot; and providing &quot;safe haven&quot; to terrorists in return for US$33 billion aid over the last 15 years.

Prominent among the suspended amount includes US$255 million in Foreign Military Funding (FMF) for the&nbsp;fiscal year 2016 as mandated by the Congress.

In addition, the Department of Defense has suspended the entire US$900 million of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) money to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017 (September 30).

&quot;Today we can confirm that we are suspending national security assistance only, to Pakistan at this time until the Pakistani government takes decisive action against groups, including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network.

We consider them to be destabilising the region and also targeting US personnel. The US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan,&quot; State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters.

The US, she said, will not be delivering military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan unless it is required by law.

Referring to the new South Asia Policy announced by Trump in August, Nauert said despite a sustained high-level engagement by this administration with the government of Pakistan, the Taliban and the Haqqani Network continue to find sanctuary inside Pakistan as they plot to destabilise Afghanistan and also attack the US and allied personnel.

Department of Defense Spokesperson Lt Col Mike Andrews told that National Defense Authorisation Act 2017 provides up to US$900 million for Pakistan in CSF.

Of these funds, US$400 million can only be released if the Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis certifies that the Pakistan government has taken specific actions against the Haqqani Network.

&quot;At this stage all Fiscal Year 17 CSF have been suspended, so that&#39;s the entire amount of US$900 million,&quot; Andrews said.

During an interaction with Pentagon reporters, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis did not respond to question if he was in favour of cutting off the aid to Pakistan.

&quot;I prefer not to address that right now because it&#39;s obviously still being formulated as policy. But I&#39;ll give my advice on it to the president. I also agree on some confidentiality there,&quot; he said.

According to a senior State Department official, no decision has been taken on the fate of USD 255 million security assistance to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017.

The deadline for that is September 30 this year.

Mattis along with the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have travelled to Pakistan in recent months to deliver a tough message to their leadership. So, this action should not come as a surprise to them, Nauert said.

&quot;They may say it&#39;s a surprise, but what is no surprise is that the President has expressed his concerns, Secretary Tillerson has expressed his concerns, as has Secretary Mattis, and I imagine many other government officials having those conversations with Pakistan,&quot; Nauert said.

Now, the money that has been suspended at this time does not mean that it will be suspended forever, she said.

&quot;Pakistan has the ability to get this money back, in the future, but they have to take decisive action. They have to take decisive steps,&quot; she added.

&quot;People have long asked, why don&#39;t you do more about Pakistan, and I think this sort of answers that question. Obviously, Pakistan is important, an important relationship to the US, because together we can work hard to combat terrorism. Perhaps no other country has suffered more from terrorism than Pakistan and many other countries in that part of the region,&quot; she said.

&quot;They understand that, but still they aren&#39;t taking the steps that they need to take in order to fight terrorism,&quot; she said.

In an interaction with reporters, two senior state department officials asserted that such a move is not a punishment, but to provide an incentive to Pakistan to take more action against terrorist groups.

&quot;We have not done anything that&#39;s irreversible here. All this funding is available to Pakistan if they undertake to take the measures that we&#39;ve asked of them,&quot; a senior administration official said in response to a question.

Noting that a country is going to react very differently to an irreversible step, the official hoped Pakistan would react differently that they would react to something which is reversible.

&quot;Pakistanis have repeatedly said we don&#39;t care about this money. What matters I think to the Pakistani&#39;s is that it is the symbolism of doing this that it represents a deterioration of our relationship that they care about a great deal,&quot; the official said.

&quot;So we were hoping that this is an incentive that they don&#39;t want to see this relationship deteriorate any further and that they&#39;re going to commit to working with us to try to find a way to put it on a more solid footing,&quot; the official added. 
According to another senior administration official, as part of the latest decision, the US will now not deliver military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan unless required by law.

&quot;Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis if they&#39;re determined to be critical for national security interests,&quot; the official said, adding that this suspension is not a permanent cut off at this time.

&quot;Security assistance funding and pending deliveries will be frozen but not cancelled as we continue to hope Pakistan will take the decisive action against terrorists the militant groups that we seek,&quot; the official said, adding that the US does not intend to reprogram any funds at this time.

This suspension includes FMF 2016 (US$255 million) as well as prior year FMF that has not yet been spent or delivered.

Final figures are still being calculated, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The suspension also includes coalition support funds for Pakistan.

However, the suspension does not include US civilian assistance programs in Pakistan.

&quot;Pakistan remains an important country in the region and in the world and has historically been a vital partner for the US,&quot; the official said.

The State Department official defended the decision not to suspend civilian assistance.

&quot;We all have no reason to believe that civilian assistance represents any form of leverage. The elements of the Pakistani government that needs to take the steps that we&#39;re talking about are not touched by civilian assistance. So, it wouldn&#39;t make any sense to tie civilian assistance to those steps that we&#39;re asking for,&quot; the official said.

The US has been holding regular talks with Pakistan, the official said, adding that they do not believe that talks are an impasse as reported in some section of the media.

&quot;We are having conversations on a weekly basis at senior levels with the Pakistanis. Our hope is not that they will see this as the end of the road,&quot; the official said.

&quot;Our hope is that they will see this as a further indication of this administration&#39;s immense frustration with the trajectory of our relationship and that they need to be serious about taking the steps we asked in order to put it on a more solid footing,&quot; the State Department Official said.

Prominent among the suspended amount includes US $255 million in Foreign Military Funding (FMF) for the?fiscal year 2016 as mandated by the Congress.

The US has suspended more than US$1.15 billion security assistance to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of harbouring terror groups like the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network within its border and showing unwillingness to take "decisive actions" against them. The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes days after President Donald Trump in a new year tweet accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for US$33 billion aid over the last 15 years. Prominent among the suspended amount includes US$255 million in Foreign Military Funding (FMF) for the fiscal year 2016 as mandated by the Congress. In addition, the Department of Defense has suspended the entire US$900 million of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) money to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017 (September 30). "Today we can confirm that we are suspending national security assistance only, to Pakistan at this time until the Pakistani government takes decisive action against groups, including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network. We consider them to be destabilising the region and also targeting US personnel. The US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters. The US, she said, will not be delivering military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan unless it is required by law. Referring to the new South Asia Policy announced by Trump in August, Nauert said despite a sustained high-level engagement by this administration with the government of Pakistan, the Taliban and the Haqqani Network continue to find sanctuary inside Pakistan as they plot to destabilise Afghanistan and also attack the US and allied personnel. Department of Defense Spokesperson Lt Col Mike Andrews told that National Defense Authorisation Act 2017 provides up to US$900 million for Pakistan in CSF. Of these funds, US$400 million can only be released if the Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis certifies that the Pakistan government has taken specific actions against the Haqqani Network. "At this stage all Fiscal Year 17 CSF have been suspended, so that's the entire amount of US$900 million," Andrews said. During an interaction with Pentagon reporters, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis did not respond to question if he was in favour of cutting off the aid to Pakistan. "I prefer not to address that right now because it's obviously still being formulated as policy. But I'll give my advice on it to the president. I also agree on some confidentiality there," he said. According to a senior State Department official, no decision has been taken on the fate of USD 255 million security assistance to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017. The deadline for that is September 30 this year. Mattis along with the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have travelled to Pakistan in recent months to deliver a tough message to their leadership. So, this action should not come as a surprise to them, Nauert said. "They may say it's a surprise, but what is no surprise is that the President has expressed his concerns, Secretary Tillerson has expressed his concerns, as has Secretary Mattis, and I imagine many other government officials having those conversations with Pakistan," Nauert said. Now, the money that has been suspended at this time does not mean that it will be suspended forever, she said. "Pakistan has the ability to get this money back, in the future, but they have to take decisive action. They have to take decisive steps," she added. "People have long asked, why don't you do more about Pakistan, and I think this sort of answers that question. Obviously, Pakistan is important, an important relationship to the US, because together we can work hard to combat terrorism. Perhaps no other country has suffered more from terrorism than Pakistan and many other countries in that part of the region," she said. "They understand that, but still they aren't taking the steps that they need to take in order to fight terrorism," she said. In an interaction with reporters, two senior state department officials asserted that such a move is not a punishment, but to provide an incentive to Pakistan to take more action against terrorist groups. "We have not done anything that's irreversible here. All this funding is available to Pakistan if they undertake to take the measures that we've asked of them," a senior administration official said in response to a question. Noting that a country is going to react very differently to an irreversible step, the official hoped Pakistan would react differently that they would react to something which is reversible. "Pakistanis have repeatedly said we don't care about this money. What matters I think to the Pakistani's is that it is the symbolism of doing this that it represents a deterioration of our relationship that they care about a great deal," the official said. "So we were hoping that this is an incentive that they don't want to see this relationship deteriorate any further and that they're going to commit to working with us to try to find a way to put it on a more solid footing," the official added. According to another senior administration official, as part of the latest decision, the US will now not deliver military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan unless required by law. "Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis if they're determined to be critical for national security interests," the official said, adding that this suspension is not a permanent cut off at this time. "Security assistance funding and pending deliveries will be frozen but not cancelled as we continue to hope Pakistan will take the decisive action against terrorists the militant groups that we seek," the official said, adding that the US does not intend to reprogram any funds at this time. This suspension includes FMF 2016 (US$255 million) as well as prior year FMF that has not yet been spent or delivered. Final figures are still being calculated, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The suspension also includes coalition support funds for Pakistan. However, the suspension does not include US civilian assistance programs in Pakistan. "Pakistan remains an important country in the region and in the world and has historically been a vital partner for the US," the official said. The State Department official defended the decision not to suspend civilian assistance. "We all have no reason to believe that civilian assistance represents any form of leverage. The elements of the Pakistani government that needs to take the steps that we're talking about are not touched by civilian assistance. So, it wouldn't make any sense to tie civilian assistance to those steps that we're asking for," the official said. The US has been holding regular talks with Pakistan, the official said, adding that they do not believe that talks are an impasse as reported in some section of the media. "We are having conversations on a weekly basis at senior levels with the Pakistanis. Our hope is not that they will see this as the end of the road," the official said. "Our hope is that they will see this as a further indication of this administration's immense frustration with the trajectory of our relationship and that they need to be serious about taking the steps we asked in order to put it on a more solid footing," the State Department Official said.

US suspends over $1.1 billion security assistance to Pakistan

The United States has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, revealed State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: US suspends security assistance to Pakistan, says State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert <a href="https://t.co/IZYqxboEVU">pic.twitter.com/IZYqxboEVU</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/949096879924527104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;Until the Pakistan government takes decisive action against groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and also targeting US personnel, US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan,&quot; &nbsp;said Heather Nauert.

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&quot;Until the Pak Govt takes decisive action against groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and also targeting U.S. personnel, US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan&quot; says Heather Nauert <a href="https://t.co/3wMKmXMAwL">pic.twitter.com/3wMKmXMAwL</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/949097435686617088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The White House on Wednesday said Pakistan needs to step up its fight against terrorism as it defended President Donald Trump over his accusation that Islamabad deceived the US by sheltering terrorists in return for $33 billion aid.

&quot;We know that Pakistan can do more to fight and stop terrorism and we want them to step up and do that. That seems pretty simple,&quot; White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference.

Trump, on Monday, tore into Pakistan accusing it of giving nothing to the US but &quot;lies and deceit&quot; and providing &quot;safe haven&quot; to terrorists in return for aid over the last 15 years thinking of American leaders as &quot;fools&quot;

The Trump administration has already decided to withhold $225 million military aid to Pakistan.&nbsp;

Trump, on Monday, tore into Pakistan accusing it of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for aid over the last 15 years thinking of American leaders as "fools"

The United States has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, revealed State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. #WATCH: US suspends security assistance to Pakistan, says State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert pic.twitter.com/IZYqxboEVU — ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2018 × "Until the Pakistan government takes decisive action against groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and also targeting US personnel, US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan," said Heather Nauert. "Until the Pak Govt takes decisive action against groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and also targeting U.S. personnel, US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan" says Heather Nauert pic.twitter.com/3wMKmXMAwL — ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2018 × The White House on Wednesday said Pakistan needs to step up its fight against terrorism as it defended President Donald Trump over his accusation that Islamabad deceived the US by sheltering terrorists in return for $33 billion aid. "We know that Pakistan can do more to fight and stop terrorism and we want them to step up and do that. That seems pretty simple," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference. Trump, on Monday, tore into Pakistan accusing it of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for aid over the last 15 years thinking of American leaders as "fools" The Trump administration has already decided to withhold $225 million military aid to Pakistan.

Watch: US suspends security assistance to Pakistan

A suspected US&nbsp;drone attack along the Pakistani-Afghan border killed an Islamist militant commander and one of his associates on Tuesday, a Pakistani official in the remote area said.

It was not immediately clear whether the missile struck on the Afghan or Pakistani side or the border.

There have been multiple unverified US&nbsp;drone strikes in the mountainous border region separating Pakistan&#39;s Kurram Agency from Afghanistan since US&nbsp;President Donald Trump took office in January.

Trump has taken a hardline stance on Pakistan, which he says provides safe haven to terrorists including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network carrying out attacks in Afghanistan.

Tuesday&#39;s suspected drone attack targeted the vehicle of a militant commander named Jamiuddin, said a Pakistani official in the area, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Another witness reported seeing the strike near the Mata Sanghar area of Kurram agency, across from the Afghan province of Paktia.

&quot;I saw two missiles hit the vehicle and the people inside were killed,&quot; said witness Rehmanullah.

The local official said it was unclear which side of the border the attack took place, but authorities were investigating.

More aggressive drone strikes that hit inside Pakistani territory are one of the steps that US&nbsp;officials have said could be taken if Islamabad does not end safe havens for militants.

Pakistan has sought to downplay several recent drone strikes inside the border, with officials saying they were on the Afghan side even though local residents said they were in Pakistan.

In October, three suspected strikes in two days killed 31 people who officials said belonged to the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network, allied to the Taliban.

Those attacks came days after a Canadian-American couple held hostage by the Taliban were freed from the area in Pakistan&#39;s northwest, striking a rare positive note in the country&#39;s often-fraught relations with the United States.

There have been multiple unverified US?drone strikes in the mountainous border region separating Pakistan's Kurram Agency from Afghanistan since US?President Donald Trump took office in January

A suspected US drone attack along the Pakistani-Afghan border killed an Islamist militant commander and one of his associates on Tuesday, a Pakistani official in the remote area said. It was not immediately clear whether the missile struck on the Afghan or Pakistani side or the border. There have been multiple unverified US drone strikes in the mountainous border region separating Pakistan's Kurram Agency from Afghanistan since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Trump has taken a hardline stance on Pakistan, which he says provides safe haven to terrorists including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network carrying out attacks in Afghanistan. Tuesday's suspected drone attack targeted the vehicle of a militant commander named Jamiuddin, said a Pakistani official in the area, speaking on condition of anonymity. Another witness reported seeing the strike near the Mata Sanghar area of Kurram agency, across from the Afghan province of Paktia. "I saw two missiles hit the vehicle and the people inside were killed," said witness Rehmanullah. The local official said it was unclear which side of the border the attack took place, but authorities were investigating. More aggressive drone strikes that hit inside Pakistani territory are one of the steps that US officials have said could be taken if Islamabad does not end safe havens for militants. Pakistan has sought to downplay several recent drone strikes inside the border, with officials saying they were on the Afghan side even though local residents said they were in Pakistan. In October, three suspected strikes in two days killed 31 people who officials said belonged to the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network, allied to the Taliban. Those attacks came days after a Canadian-American couple held hostage by the Taliban were freed from the area in Pakistan's northwest, striking a rare positive note in the country's often-fraught relations with the United States.

Suspected US drone kills militants on Pakistan-Afghan border

President Trump signed the defense <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-congress-approves-bill-delinking-haqqani-network-from-let-25078">policy bill on Wednesday authorizing</a> $700 billion military spending for the coming fiscal which included reimbursement for Pakistan for its support to US troops involved in military operations in Afghanistan.

US Congress had passed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/freed-canadian-hostage-says-haqqani-network-raped-american-wife-murdered-baby-22456">the National Defence Authorisation Act(NDAA)&nbsp;early </a>last month, allowing up to $700m in Coalition Support Fund (CSF) for Pakistan, Dawn newspaper reported.

The Pakistan daily added that half the amount has been withheld and can only be released if the US secretary of defence James Mattis certifies that Pakistan is taking &quot;demonstrable steps to curb the Haqqani terrorist network.&quot;

Former defense secretary Ashton Carter including James Mattis had refused to certify&nbsp;Pakistan earlier over its progress to eliminate the Haqqani Network which the US says is actively involved in terror activities in Afganistan.

The defense law requires Pentagon to monitor Washington&rsquo;s security assistance to Pakistan and ensure that it does not use military aid to support militant groups, the report said.

In the earlier version of the bill, US authorities had included both the Haqqani terrorist network and Hafiz Saeed&#39;s Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT) which India accuses is responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

However, in the final version of the bill, US authorities dropped LeT from the list.

The NDAA 2018 also expressed concern about the alleged persecution of various political or religious groups in Pakistan, including Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, Sindhis, Hazaras and the Baloch, the Pakistan daily said, adding the bill urged Mattis to ensure that Pakistan does not use &quot;any assistance provided by the United States to persecute minority groups.&quot;&nbsp;

US Congress had passed the National Defence Authorisation Act(NDAA)?early last month, allowing up to $700m in Coalition Support Fund (CSF) for Pakistan, Dawn newspaper reported.

President Trump signed the defense policy bill on Wednesday authorizing $700 billion military spending for the coming fiscal which included reimbursement for Pakistan for its support to US troops involved in military operations in Afghanistan. US Congress had passed the National Defence Authorisation Act(NDAA) early last month, allowing up to $700m in Coalition Support Fund (CSF) for Pakistan, Dawn newspaper reported. The Pakistan daily added that half the amount has been withheld and can only be released if the US secretary of defence James Mattis certifies that Pakistan is taking "demonstrable steps to curb the Haqqani terrorist network." Former defense secretary Ashton Carter including James Mattis had refused to certify Pakistan earlier over its progress to eliminate the Haqqani Network which the US says is actively involved in terror activities in Afganistan. The defense law requires Pentagon to monitor Washington’s security assistance to Pakistan and ensure that it does not use military aid to support militant groups, the report said. In the earlier version of the bill, US authorities had included both the Haqqani terrorist network and Hafiz Saeed's Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT) which India accuses is responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. However, in the final version of the bill, US authorities dropped LeT from the list. The NDAA 2018 also expressed concern about the alleged persecution of various political or religious groups in Pakistan, including Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, Sindhis, Hazaras and the Baloch, the Pakistan daily said, adding the bill urged Mattis to ensure that Pakistan does not use "any assistance provided by the United States to persecute minority groups."

Trump's defense bill to reimburse $700 million to Pak for supporting Afghanistan operation: Report

The US is not satisfied with Pakistan&#39;s cooperation in the war against terror as it has not done &quot;anything significant&quot; to rein-in the Taliban and the Haqqani network and destroy their sanctuary on its territory as part of its promise, a senior White House official has said.

He also termed the release of Mumbai-terror attack accused Hafiz Saeed as &quot;a step backward&quot; in that direction.

The official said that the release of the Coleman family, held captive for five years by the Haqqani network, from inside Pakistan was &quot;not an indication&quot; of Islamabad&#39;s cooperation with the US in the war against terrorism.

Based on the intelligence shared by the US, in October, the Pakistan Army rescued Caitlan Coleman, her husband Joshua Boyle and their three children after five years of their abduction by terrorists having ties to the Afghan Taliban from the mountainous Kurram Valley region, bordering Afghanistan.

&quot;Our diplomatic pressure, as well as our own intelligence agencies diligent work led to the release of the Coleman family. So, I am not sure if that qualifies as step forward (by Pakistan as part of the South Asia Strategy announced by President Donald Trump in August),&quot; the official told PTI.

&quot;We are happy that the Colemans are free and that they have been released. But we are still waiting to see Pakistan take steps to rein in the Taliban and the Haqqani network. We are not satisfied that they have done anything significant on this front,&quot; he said.

The US, the official said, has now a different approach to Pakistan. &quot;We expect, Pakistan to take steps against terror sanctuary on its territory&quot;.

Acknowledging that Pakistan has not taken steps it promised after the announcement of the South Asia Strategy, the senior administration official said that the White House is still hopeful that Pakistan sees that it is in its interest to co-operate on the US strategy in Afghanistan.

&quot;But we have not yet seen any significant changes. We still remain hopeful. And we recognise that some of these changes take a bit of time and wouldn&#39;t necessarily occur overnight.

&quot;But we will expect to see these changes within a certain time-frame. Our patience is not unlimited when it comes to the steps that we expect them to take,&quot; he said.

The Trump Administration has been very specific with Pakistan on the steps that it needs to take, we have laid out very specific steps that they need to take to degrade these groups activities and to facilitate a genuine dialogue, the official said.

&quot;But, I don&#39;t think we have seen any significant steps in that direction. So, we are still waiting and watching and monitoring (Pakistan) very closely. And we&#39;re still hopeful that we will see Pakistan take some of those steps to crack down on the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and ensure that there are no safe havens, for these groups to continue operating inside Pakistan,&quot; he added.

The US, the official said, would be looking for very specific action from Pakistan within coming weeks and months.

He said that by spring, the Trump Administration would hope to see some real efforts on &quot;genuine&quot; peace process, as it is not interested in talks for talk&#39;s sake.

&quot;We would like to see a genuine peace dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban. We know that the Taliban has made gains for the last several years. So until they are convinced that they are not going to have sanctuary in Pakistan, we don&#39;t believe they&#39;ll be ready for talks.

&quot;They will continue to believe that they can advance on the battlefield rather than on the negotiating table,&quot; he said, adding &quot;so, we need to see Pakistan ensures that they don&#39;t have a sanctuary within Pakistan. And only at that time we assess that they&#39;ll really be ready for genuine negotiations with the Afghan government&quot;.

The White House official, however, refused to give any timeline for actions on Pakistan, saying he thinks that it would not be helpful.

&quot;But I just want to assure you that that we are thinking in terms of timelines and we are monitoring the progress and we do expect meaningful actions in a certain time-frame and we are prepared to implement new policies and take different steps if we don&#39;t see some progress,&quot; he said.

The US is not satisfied with Pakistan's cooperation in the war against terror as it has not done "anything significant" to rein-in the Taliban and the Haqqani network and destroy their sanctuary on its territory as part of its promise, a senior White House official has said

The US is not satisfied with Pakistan's cooperation in the war against terror as it has not done "anything significant" to rein-in the Taliban and the Haqqani network and destroy their sanctuary on its territory as part of its promise, a senior White House official has said. He also termed the release of Mumbai-terror attack accused Hafiz Saeed as "a step backward" in that direction. The official said that the release of the Coleman family, held captive for five years by the Haqqani network, from inside Pakistan was "not an indication" of Islamabad's cooperation with the US in the war against terrorism. Based on the intelligence shared by the US, in October, the Pakistan Army rescued Caitlan Coleman, her husband Joshua Boyle and their three children after five years of their abduction by terrorists having ties to the Afghan Taliban from the mountainous Kurram Valley region, bordering Afghanistan. "Our diplomatic pressure, as well as our own intelligence agencies diligent work led to the release of the Coleman family. So, I am not sure if that qualifies as step forward (by Pakistan as part of the South Asia Strategy announced by President Donald Trump in August)," the official told PTI. "We are happy that the Colemans are free and that they have been released. But we are still waiting to see Pakistan take steps to rein in the Taliban and the Haqqani network. We are not satisfied that they have done anything significant on this front," he said. The US, the official said, has now a different approach to Pakistan. "We expect, Pakistan to take steps against terror sanctuary on its territory". Acknowledging that Pakistan has not taken steps it promised after the announcement of the South Asia Strategy, the senior administration official said that the White House is still hopeful that Pakistan sees that it is in its interest to co-operate on the US strategy in Afghanistan. "But we have not yet seen any significant changes. We still remain hopeful. And we recognise that some of these changes take a bit of time and wouldn't necessarily occur overnight. "But we will expect to see these changes within a certain time-frame. Our patience is not unlimited when it comes to the steps that we expect them to take," he said. The Trump Administration has been very specific with Pakistan on the steps that it needs to take, we have laid out very specific steps that they need to take to degrade these groups activities and to facilitate a genuine dialogue, the official said. "But, I don't think we have seen any significant steps in that direction. So, we are still waiting and watching and monitoring (Pakistan) very closely. And we're still hopeful that we will see Pakistan take some of those steps to crack down on the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and ensure that there are no safe havens, for these groups to continue operating inside Pakistan," he added. The US, the official said, would be looking for very specific action from Pakistan within coming weeks and months. He said that by spring, the Trump Administration would hope to see some real efforts on "genuine" peace process, as it is not interested in talks for talk's sake. "We would like to see a genuine peace dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban. We know that the Taliban has made gains for the last several years. So until they are convinced that they are not going to have sanctuary in Pakistan, we don't believe they'll be ready for talks. "They will continue to believe that they can advance on the battlefield rather than on the negotiating table," he said, adding "so, we need to see Pakistan ensures that they don't have a sanctuary within Pakistan. And only at that time we assess that they'll really be ready for genuine negotiations with the Afghan government". The White House official, however, refused to give any timeline for actions on Pakistan, saying he thinks that it would not be helpful. "But I just want to assure you that that we are thinking in terms of timelines and we are monitoring the progress and we do expect meaningful actions in a certain time-frame and we are prepared to implement new policies and take different steps if we don't see some progress," he said.

Pakistan hasn't done anything significant in war against terror: US

As Hafiz Saeed walked free on Wednesday,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pervez-musharraf-im-lashkars-biggest-supporter-they-like-me-too-25405"> a top US general John Nicholson said</a> he hadn&#39;t seen any &quot;changes implemented&quot; by Pakistan despite Trump administration&#39;s tough line on terror.

&quot;We have been very direct and very clear with the Pakistanis... we have not seen those changes implemented yet,&quot; commanded of US forces in Afghanistan said.

President Trump while unveiling the Afghanistan strategy in August had said Pakistan needed to do more to destroy terrorists haven&#39;s inside the country, declaring it harboured &ldquo;agents of chaos&rdquo;.

With US set to send&nbsp;3,000 additional troops as part of the new Afghanistan strategy, the US general summed the situation saying: &quot;we are on our way to a win.&quot;

The US administration has been especially tough on Pakistan clamping down on the Haqqani Network, but results have been difficult to come about on the ground.

&quot;We are hoping to see those changes, we are hoping to work together with the Pakistanis going forward to eliminate terrorists who are crossing&quot; the border, Nicholson said.

General Nicholson said he believed that senior Taliban leaders were based in Pakistan, while the lower-level leadership was based in Afghanistan.

The US general added that he had seen evidence of relations between Iran and the Taliban in western Afghanistan and was closely tracking it.

The US has tried to give logistic and technical support to the Afghan army, including supplying around 58 armed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as part of the $1 billion deal to provide 159 helicopters to the Afghan forces until 2024.

The Taliban though has continued its terror campaign in Afghanistan targeting Kabul with suicide attacks and bombing almost every week as the Afghan forces have struggled to maintain peace on the ground.

President Trump while unveiling the Afghanistan strategy in August had said Pakistan needed to do more to destroy terrorists haven's inside the country

As Hafiz Saeed walked free on Wednesday, a top US general John Nicholson said he hadn't seen any "changes implemented" by Pakistan despite Trump administration's tough line on terror. "We have been very direct and very clear with the Pakistanis... we have not seen those changes implemented yet," commanded of US forces in Afghanistan said. President Trump while unveiling the Afghanistan strategy in August had said Pakistan needed to do more to destroy terrorists haven's inside the country, declaring it harboured “agents of chaos”. With US set to send 3,000 additional troops as part of the new Afghanistan strategy, the US general summed the situation saying: "we are on our way to a win." The US administration has been especially tough on Pakistan clamping down on the Haqqani Network, but results have been difficult to come about on the ground. "We are hoping to see those changes, we are hoping to work together with the Pakistanis going forward to eliminate terrorists who are crossing" the border, Nicholson said. General Nicholson said he believed that senior Taliban leaders were based in Pakistan, while the lower-level leadership was based in Afghanistan. The US general added that he had seen evidence of relations between Iran and the Taliban in western Afghanistan and was closely tracking it. The US has tried to give logistic and technical support to the Afghan army, including supplying around 58 armed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as part of the $1 billion deal to provide 159 helicopters to the Afghan forces until 2024. The Taliban though has continued its terror campaign in Afghanistan targeting Kabul with suicide attacks and bombing almost every week as the Afghan forces have struggled to maintain peace on the ground.

We have been very direct with Pakistan but haven't seen changes implemented: US General Nicholson

Congress vice-president fired yet another salvo on&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning when he sarcastically tweeted &#39;hugplomacy fail&#39;. More hugs urgently need.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot; Narendrabhai, it&#39;s not working, Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugdiplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed,&quot; tweeted the official Twitter handle of office of Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

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Narendrabhai, ??? ???? ???. Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed.<a href="https://t.co/U8Bg2vlZqw">https://t.co/U8Bg2vlZqw</a>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/934270304980889600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Earlier on November 24, Saeed was released from house arrest in Lahore.

Police guards were removed from his residence where a large number of supporters gathered to celebrate the end of his house arrest.

In his first address after being released, Saeed blames India and the U.S. for detention and raked up Kashmir.

Saeed is said to be the head of the U.S.-designated terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba and had been under house arrest since January 31 this year.

The decision to put Saeed under house arrest in January was seen as a response to actions by US President Donald Trump&#39;s White House against nations deemed linked to terrorism.

He has been declared a global terrorist by the United Nations and the US for his role in the Mumbai attack which claimed the lives of 166 people and maimed over 300 others.

He has a USD 10 million bounty on his head.&nbsp;

(With agency inputs)&nbsp;

" Narendrabhai, it's not working, Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugdiplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed," Rahul tweeted

Congress vice-president fired yet another salvo on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning when he sarcastically tweeted 'hugplomacy fail'. More hugs urgently need. " Narendrabhai, it's not working, Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugdiplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed," tweeted the official Twitter handle of office of Rahul Gandhi. Narendrabhai, ??? ???? ???. Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed.https://t.co/U8Bg2vlZqw — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 25, 2017 × Earlier on November 24, Saeed was released from house arrest in Lahore. Police guards were removed from his residence where a large number of supporters gathered to celebrate the end of his house arrest. In his first address after being released, Saeed blames India and the U.S. for detention and raked up Kashmir. Saeed is said to be the head of the U.S.-designated terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba and had been under house arrest since January 31 this year. The decision to put Saeed under house arrest in January was seen as a response to actions by US President Donald Trump's White House against nations deemed linked to terrorism. He has been declared a global terrorist by the United Nations and the US for his role in the Mumbai attack which claimed the lives of 166 people and maimed over 300 others. He has a USD 10 million bounty on his head. (With agency inputs)

'Hugplomacy fail': Rahul's latest jibe at Modi over Hafiz Saeed's release

CIA chief Mike Pompeo said today the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-official-releases-us-canadian-family-held-in-captive-for-5-years-22425">US-Canadian couple who were kidnapped by the Taliban-linked</a> Haqqani network in Afghanistan and later freed by Pakistani Army were held inside Pakistan for five years contradicting&nbsp;claims from Pakistani officials who said they were rescued shortly after entering Pakistan from Afghanistan.

American Caitlan Campbell, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their three children who were born in captivity were freed by the Pakistan Army following five years as hostages of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.

Pakistan troops had said they were instrumental in freeing the couple from Taliban-linked Haqqani network. In a statement, the Pakistan Army had said the couple were rescued after a car chase.

&quot;The couple had been held for five years inside Pakistan,&quot; the CIA chief said while speaking during a function in Washington at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies.

The kidnappers, however, managed to escape. Later, Major General Asif Ghafoor, military spokesman for Pakistan&#39;s army told NBC News that the vehicle&#39;s driver and another militant had escaped to a nearby refugee camp.

The family&#39;s rescue was hailed by US President Donald Trump as a &quot;positive moment&quot; for US-Pakistan relations.

Trump, in a statement, had said the release of the hostages indicates Pakistan was acquiescing to &quot;America&#39;s wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region&quot;.

Pakistan troops had said they were instrumental in freeing the couple from Taliban-linked Haqqani network

CIA chief Mike Pompeo said today the US-Canadian couple who were kidnapped by the Taliban-linked Haqqani network in Afghanistan and later freed by Pakistani Army were held inside Pakistan for five years contradicting claims from Pakistani officials who said they were rescued shortly after entering Pakistan from Afghanistan. American Caitlan Campbell, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their three children who were born in captivity were freed by the Pakistan Army following five years as hostages of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network. Pakistan troops had said they were instrumental in freeing the couple from Taliban-linked Haqqani network. In a statement, the Pakistan Army had said the couple were rescued after a car chase. "The couple had been held for five years inside Pakistan," the CIA chief said while speaking during a function in Washington at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies. The kidnappers, however, managed to escape. Later, Major General Asif Ghafoor, military spokesman for Pakistan's army told NBC News that the vehicle's driver and another militant had escaped to a nearby refugee camp. The family's rescue was hailed by US President Donald Trump as a "positive moment" for US-Pakistan relations. Trump, in a statement, had said the release of the hostages indicates Pakistan was acquiescing to "America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region".

US-Canadian couple were held in Pakistan for five years: CIA chief

Freed hostage Joshua Boyle has told public broadcaster CBC his children are exploring their new home in Canada but are still very fearful after a brutal years-long ordeal at the hands of Taliban-linked kidnappers.

Boyle and his American wife and three children were freed Wednesday in Pakistan after five years of captivity at the hands of the Haqqani network, a militant group that operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

In a chilling statement on the family&#39;s arrival in Toronto, Boyle accused his kidnappers of murdering their infant daughter and raping his wife, Caitlan Coleman. He said his priority now was to protect his family.

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<h5>Joshua Boyle said his children are terrified to leave their new home but beginning to understand that there are decent people in the world</h5>
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In a message sent later to Canadian media from his parents&#39; home town of Smith Falls, around 80 km (50 miles) from Ottawa, the 34-year-old said the family had safely arrived in the first real &quot;home&quot; his children had ever known.

In remarks emailed to CBC, he said the children -- boys aged four and two, and a girl just four months old -- were starting to adapt to new surroundings after their harrowing ordeal.

The CBC said Boyle told them his four year-old was examining post-it notes and curtains and boardgames.

&quot;Everything in the house, he said, is a wonderland to him, and that said, he is still terrified to leave the house, even to go out on the porch,&quot; CBC correspondent Susan Armiston said.

Boyle said his two-year-old was &quot;nearly as distressed as he was in prison&quot; but his baby girl while scared had also discovered &quot;there are more decent people in the world than she ever knew,&quot; Armiston said.

Kidnapped 
Boyle and his wife were kidnapped by the Taliban-linked Haqqani network in a remote area of Afghanistan in 2012.

The family was freed Wednesday by Pakistani troops acting on US intelligence.&nbsp;

Visibly angry, Boyle told reporters the network had ordered the killing of their baby -- a fourth child, whose existence had not previously been known -- as retaliation for his refusal to accept an offer from them.

&quot;The stupidity and evil of the Haqqani network&#39;s kidnapping of a pilgrim and his heavily pregnant wife engaged in helping ordinary villagers in Taliban-controlled regions of Afghanistan was eclipsed only by the stupidity and evil of authorizing the murder of my infant daughter,&quot; he said.

Boyle also said his wife had been raped, not by a lone guard but with the aid of the captain of the guard and a Haqqani commander he identified as Abu Hajr.

The Haqqani network is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban&#39;s deputy leader.

The faction has long been suspected of having links with Pakistan&#39;s shadowy military establishment.

Boyle said both incidents took place in 2014, some two years after they were taken captive.

He said the Taliban had confirmed the crimes took place, in an investigation in 2016, and called on the group&#39;s leaders to take action against the &quot;criminal miscreants.&quot;

&#39;Secure sanctuary&#39; 
Boyle said his focus was now on rebuilding a life for his wife and children.&nbsp;

&quot;Obviously it will be of incredible importance to my family to build a secure sanctuary to call a home, to focus on edification and to regain some portion of the childhood they have lost,&quot; he said.

But questions remain about how Boyle and his pregnant wife found themselves in Taliban-controlled territory, and Coleman&#39;s father lashed out at his son-in-law in an interview on ABC.

&quot;Taking your pregnant wife to a very dangerous place, to me, and the kind of person I am, is unconscionable,&quot; said Jim Coleman.

Before marrying Coleman, Boyle was briefly married in 2009 to Zaynab Khadr, the sister of Canadian-born Omar Khadr, who was captured in battle as a teenager in Afghanistan in 2002 and held for a decade in the US military at Guantanamo Bay.&nbsp;

Family ties 
Boyle was active in the campaign to win Khadr&#39;s release from Guantanamo and his transfer to Canada in 2012, where he was freed on bail in 2015.

On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Boyle was not a target of any investigation.

In a video broadcast by CBC, which said it was shot by the Pakistani military following their release, Boyle claims that the vehicle they were travelling in was &quot;riddled with bullets,&quot; and praised the soldiers for shielding his family from the gunfire.

&quot;The criminals who held us, they were not good Muslims,&quot; Boyle is shown as saying. &quot;They were not even bad Muslims.&quot;

&quot;They were undoubtedly criminals, undoubtedly pagans, they were directed by commanders who were not guided by Islam,&quot; he said.

The family was freed Wednesday by Pakistani troops acting on US intelligence

Freed hostage Joshua Boyle has told public broadcaster CBC his children are exploring their new home in Canada but are still very fearful after a brutal years-long ordeal at the hands of Taliban-linked kidnappers. Boyle and his American wife and three children were freed Wednesday in Pakistan after five years of captivity at the hands of the Haqqani network, a militant group that operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In a chilling statement on the family's arrival in Toronto, Boyle accused his kidnappers of murdering their infant daughter and raping his wife, Caitlan Coleman. He said his priority now was to protect his family. Joshua Boyle said his children are terrified to leave their new home but beginning to understand that there are decent people in the world × In a message sent later to Canadian media from his parents' home town of Smith Falls, around 80 km (50 miles) from Ottawa, the 34-year-old said the family had safely arrived in the first real "home" his children had ever known. In remarks emailed to CBC, he said the children -- boys aged four and two, and a girl just four months old -- were starting to adapt to new surroundings after their harrowing ordeal. The CBC said Boyle told them his four year-old was examining post-it notes and curtains and boardgames. "Everything in the house, he said, is a wonderland to him, and that said, he is still terrified to leave the house, even to go out on the porch," CBC correspondent Susan Armiston said. Boyle said his two-year-old was "nearly as distressed as he was in prison" but his baby girl while scared had also discovered "there are more decent people in the world than she ever knew," Armiston said. Kidnapped Boyle and his wife were kidnapped by the Taliban-linked Haqqani network in a remote area of Afghanistan in 2012. The family was freed Wednesday by Pakistani troops acting on US intelligence. Visibly angry, Boyle told reporters the network had ordered the killing of their baby -- a fourth child, whose existence had not previously been known -- as retaliation for his refusal to accept an offer from them. "The stupidity and evil of the Haqqani network's kidnapping of a pilgrim and his heavily pregnant wife engaged in helping ordinary villagers in Taliban-controlled regions of Afghanistan was eclipsed only by the stupidity and evil of authorizing the murder of my infant daughter," he said. Boyle also said his wife had been raped, not by a lone guard but with the aid of the captain of the guard and a Haqqani commander he identified as Abu Hajr. The Haqqani network is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader. The faction has long been suspected of having links with Pakistan's shadowy military establishment. Boyle said both incidents took place in 2014, some two years after they were taken captive. He said the Taliban had confirmed the crimes took place, in an investigation in 2016, and called on the group's leaders to take action against the "criminal miscreants." 'Secure sanctuary' Boyle said his focus was now on rebuilding a life for his wife and children. "Obviously it will be of incredible importance to my family to build a secure sanctuary to call a home, to focus on edification and to regain some portion of the childhood they have lost," he said. But questions remain about how Boyle and his pregnant wife found themselves in Taliban-controlled territory, and Coleman's father lashed out at his son-in-law in an interview on ABC. "Taking your pregnant wife to a very dangerous place, to me, and the kind of person I am, is unconscionable," said Jim Coleman. Before marrying Coleman, Boyle was briefly married in 2009 to Zaynab Khadr, the sister of Canadian-born Omar Khadr, who was captured in battle as a teenager in Afghanistan in 2002 and held for a decade in the US military at Guantanamo Bay. Family ties Boyle was active in the campaign to win Khadr's release from Guantanamo and his transfer to Canada in 2012, where he was freed on bail in 2015. On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Boyle was not a target of any investigation. In a video broadcast by CBC, which said it was shot by the Pakistani military following their release, Boyle claims that the vehicle they were travelling in was "riddled with bullets," and praised the soldiers for shielding his family from the gunfire. "The criminals who held us, they were not good Muslims," Boyle is shown as saying. "They were not even bad Muslims." "They were undoubtedly criminals, undoubtedly pagans, they were directed by commanders who were not guided by Islam," he said.

Freed Canadian hostage says Haqqani network raped American wife, murdered baby

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-killed-in-sectarian-attack-in-pakistan-official-21231" target="_blank">Pakistani</a> troops shot out the tyres of a vehicle carrying a kidnapped US-Canadian couple and their children in a raid that led to the family&#39;s release, a Pakistani security official said on Friday.

The operation late on Wednesday freed American Caitlan Campbell, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their three children who were born in captivity following five years as hostages of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.

Taliban sources said the family spent most of their captivity at Haqqani strongholds inside Pakistan, and not in Afghanistan as early Pakistani reports had indicated.

A senior Pakistani security source on Friday detailed how the family, who were expected to leave Pakistan on Friday, were freed following a car chase in Pakistan&#39;s northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

He said Pakistani troops and intelligence agents, acting on a US intelligence tip, zeroed in on a vehicle holding the family as they were being moved in Kurram agency.

Agents from Pakistan&#39;s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) spy-agency and army soldiers attempted to intercept the vehicle, but it sped away and was chased into a district in northwest Pakistan, according to the security source.

&quot;Our troops fired at the vehicle and burst its tyres,&quot; he said, declining to be identified because he is not authorised to speak openly to the media.

The kidnappers managed to escape, the security official added, saying the troops wouldn&#39;t fire at the fleeing captors for fear of harming the hostages. The army recovered the hostages safely from the car.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, military spokesman for Pakistan&#39;s army, told NBC News that the vehicle&#39;s driver and another militant had escaped to a nearby refugee camp.

A second Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US drones had been circling the town of Kohat, on the edge of the tribal areas on Wednesday, suggesting US co-operation included sophisticated surveillance inside Pakistan.

The US embassy in Pakistan declined to comment on the drone report.

The family&#39;s rescue has been hailed by US President Donald Trump as a &quot;positive moment&quot; for US-Pakistan relations, which have frayed in recent years amid Washington&#39;s assertions that Islamabad was not doing enough to tackle Haqqani militants who are believed to be on Pakistani soil.

Trump, in a statement, said the release of the hostages indicates Pakistan was acquiescing to &quot;America&#39;s wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region&quot;.

Pakistani officials bristle at claims Islamabad is not doing enough to tackle Islamist militants. After the release of the family, they emphasised the importance of co-operation and intelligence sharing by Washington, which has threatened to cut military aid and other punitive measures against Pakistan.

Hostages Location

Pakistan&#39;s military said the family was rescued after entering Pakistan from Afghanistan, but two Taliban sources with knowledge of the family&#39;s captivity said they had been kept in Pakistan in recent years.

A US government source in Washington also said there was no indication the family had been in Afghanistan.

The Haqqani network operates on both sides of the porous Afghan-Pakistani border but senior militants have acknowledged they moved a major base of operations to Kurram agency in the tribal areas.

Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Thursday told Reuters that the US military had been ready to fly the family out of the country after they were freed but said Boyle, who is Canadian, had refused to board the aircraft.

Canada&#39;s Toronto Star newspaper reported that Boyle told his parents that he asked to be taken to the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad after their rescue.

Boyle had been a staunch critic of the human rights abuses in the US&nbsp;war on terror after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and was previously married for a year to the sister of an inmate at the US military detention centre at Guantanamo Bay.

The Star reported that Boyle said he sustained minor shrapnel wounds during the shootout.

The operation late on Wednesday freed American Caitlan Campbell, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their three children who were born in captivity following five years as hostages of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network

Pakistani troops shot out the tyres of a vehicle carrying a kidnapped US-Canadian couple and their children in a raid that led to the family's release, a Pakistani security official said on Friday. The operation late on Wednesday freed American Caitlan Campbell, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their three children who were born in captivity following five years as hostages of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network. Taliban sources said the family spent most of their captivity at Haqqani strongholds inside Pakistan, and not in Afghanistan as early Pakistani reports had indicated. A senior Pakistani security source on Friday detailed how the family, who were expected to leave Pakistan on Friday, were freed following a car chase in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan. He said Pakistani troops and intelligence agents, acting on a US intelligence tip, zeroed in on a vehicle holding the family as they were being moved in Kurram agency. Agents from Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) spy-agency and army soldiers attempted to intercept the vehicle, but it sped away and was chased into a district in northwest Pakistan, according to the security source. "Our troops fired at the vehicle and burst its tyres," he said, declining to be identified because he is not authorised to speak openly to the media. The kidnappers managed to escape, the security official added, saying the troops wouldn't fire at the fleeing captors for fear of harming the hostages. The army recovered the hostages safely from the car. Major General Asif Ghafoor, military spokesman for Pakistan's army, told NBC News that the vehicle's driver and another militant had escaped to a nearby refugee camp. A second Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US drones had been circling the town of Kohat, on the edge of the tribal areas on Wednesday, suggesting US co-operation included sophisticated surveillance inside Pakistan. The US embassy in Pakistan declined to comment on the drone report. The family's rescue has been hailed by US President Donald Trump as a "positive moment" for US-Pakistan relations, which have frayed in recent years amid Washington's assertions that Islamabad was not doing enough to tackle Haqqani militants who are believed to be on Pakistani soil. Trump, in a statement, said the release of the hostages indicates Pakistan was acquiescing to "America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region". Pakistani officials bristle at claims Islamabad is not doing enough to tackle Islamist militants. After the release of the family, they emphasised the importance of co-operation and intelligence sharing by Washington, which has threatened to cut military aid and other punitive measures against Pakistan. Hostages Location Pakistan's military said the family was rescued after entering Pakistan from Afghanistan, but two Taliban sources with knowledge of the family's captivity said they had been kept in Pakistan in recent years. A US government source in Washington also said there was no indication the family had been in Afghanistan. The Haqqani network operates on both sides of the porous Afghan-Pakistani border but senior militants have acknowledged they moved a major base of operations to Kurram agency in the tribal areas. Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Thursday told Reuters that the US military had been ready to fly the family out of the country after they were freed but said Boyle, who is Canadian, had refused to board the aircraft. Canada's Toronto Star newspaper reported that Boyle told his parents that he asked to be taken to the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad after their rescue. Boyle had been a staunch critic of the human rights abuses in the US war on terror after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and was previously married for a year to the sister of an inmate at the US military detention centre at Guantanamo Bay. The Star reported that Boyle said he sustained minor shrapnel wounds during the shootout.

Pakistan troops helped free US-Canadian family held captive: Pak official

Pakistan&#39;s foreign minister Khawaja Asif said his country is ready <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-has-cracked-down-on-islamist-militants-including-haqqani-network-army-19281">for a joint operation with </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-has-cracked-down-on-islamist-militants-including-haqqani-network-army-19281">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-has-cracked-down-on-islamist-militants-including-haqqani-network-army-19281"> against the Haqqani Network </a>if it provides evidence of safe havens inside Pakistan.

&quot;We have offered <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-condemns-kabul-blast-as-afghanistan-blames-pakistan-backed-haqqani-network-16291">American authorities to visit Pakistan</a> with evidence of Haqqani network&#39;s safe havens in the country,&quot; he told Pakistan&#39;s Express News.

Just hours before President Trump&#39;s announcement on Afganistan policy in late August,&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s Major General Asif had said that &quot;there were no terrorist hideouts in Pakistan&quot; and operations were carried out &quot;against all terrorists, including the Haqqani network&quot;.&nbsp;He said evidence to that effect was shared with General Joseph Votel, chief of the US Central Command.

&quot;If they find any activity [of Haqqanis] in the targeted areas, our troops, along with the US, would destroy them once and for all,&quot; Pakistan&#39;s foreign minister asserted.

The US had blocked a $300 million military aid to Islamabad after it failed to get a Congressional certification for &quot;satisfactory&quot; action against the dreaded Haqqani network.

The Haqqani Network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets.

The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The Pentagon had earlier said it was in Pakistan&#39;s interest to take action against terrorists in &quot;as many ways as possible&quot;.

Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif said his country is ready for a joint operation with US to destroy the targets if the Trump administration provided evidence.

Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif said his country is ready for a joint operation with US against the Haqqani Network if it provides evidence of safe havens inside Pakistan. "We have offered American authorities to visit Pakistan with evidence of Haqqani network's safe havens in the country," he told Pakistan's Express News. Just hours before President Trump's announcement on Afganistan policy in late August, Pakistan's Major General Asif had said that "there were no terrorist hideouts in Pakistan" and operations were carried out "against all terrorists, including the Haqqani network". He said evidence to that effect was shared with General Joseph Votel, chief of the US Central Command. "If they find any activity [of Haqqanis] in the targeted areas, our troops, along with the US, would destroy them once and for all," Pakistan's foreign minister asserted. The US had blocked a $300 million military aid to Islamabad after it failed to get a Congressional certification for "satisfactory" action against the dreaded Haqqani network. The Haqqani Network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets. The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. The Pentagon had earlier said it was in Pakistan's interest to take action against terrorists in "as many ways as possible".

Produce evidence of Haqqani Network's safe havens: Pakistan to US

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan took a shot at Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on the social media platform Twitter for his recent comments regarding Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Haqqani network.

In a chain of tweets, Khan claimed that Dawn Leaks was a &ldquo;deliberate attempt by PMLN&rdquo; to target Pakistan&rsquo;s military. He further alleged that the &ldquo;Sharifs and their cronies&rdquo; were desperate to appease Indo-US lobby.

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Now evident that DawnLeaks was a deliberate attempt by PMLN to target Pak mly at a time when it is fighting our enemies on multiple fronts <a href="https://t.co/pp9ecmNbEU">pic.twitter.com/pp9ecmNbEU</a>
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/913282295280406528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Sharifs &amp; their cronies desperate to appease Indo-US lobby &amp; interests as their loot/properties all stashed away in West. <a href="https://t.co/LJiX6eEoHx">https://t.co/LJiX6eEoHx</a>
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/913282792158580738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Their continuous targeting of our armed forces continues today as part of this Indo-US appeasement. No concern for Pak lives sacrificed <a href="https://t.co/RaqQAMx9PS">https://t.co/RaqQAMx9PS</a>
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/913283372868304896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Kh Asif&#39;s comments of ownership of militant gps coming from a Foreign Min undermining Pak security. With such a FM, who needs enemies? <a href="https://t.co/2fAqxMUHYh">https://t.co/2fAqxMUHYh</a>
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/913284081592537089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Pakistan&#39;s foreign minister Khawaja Asif, in an attempt to clarify Pakitan&#39;s position, asked the international community to stop accusing the country of the presence of Haqqani Network and Hafiz Saeed. He claimed that these &quot;terrorists&quot; were the &quot;darlings&quot; of the United States a few decades ago.

&quot;Don&#39;t blame us for the Haqqanis [the Haqqani Network] and don&#39;t blame us for the Hafiz Saeed, chief of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa. These were the people who were your darlings just 20 to 30 years back. They were being dined and wined in the White House, and now, you say &#39;go to hell Pakistanis because you are nurturing these people,&quot; The Dawn quoted Asif saying at the Asia Society in New York.

&quot;It is very easy to say Pakistan is floating the Haqqanis and Hafiz Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. They are liabilities. I accept that they are liabilities, but give us time to get rid of them, because we don&#39;t have the assets to match these liabilities and you are increasing our liabilities further,&quot; the foreging minister said.

Asif is attending the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.

He also expressed Islamabad&#39;s eagerness to work alongside the US. &quot;Pakistan stands ready for effective management of the Afghan border to stop terrorist infiltration and to facilitate a peace settlement in Afghanistan,&quot; he said.

The US has previously blamed Pakistan for not taking compelling action against the Haqqani Network.

Washington states that the militant group has been operating out of &quot;Pakistan-based safe havens&quot; causing threat to the US and native forces in Afghanistan.

Asif said that Islamabad cannot be held responsible for the tensions in Afghanistan, claiming that peace cannot be established only through the strategy applied by the US and would require negotiated settlement.

&quot;Pakistan cannot owe responsibility for peace and security in Afghanistan, adding that effective border management with Afghanistan is imperative to stop the infiltration of terrorists,&quot; the News International quoted Asif, as saying while addressing the Asia Society in New York.

Asif said that the United States cannot succeed in Afghanistan by waging war, adding that for the last 16 years, it is clear that peace will not be restored by resorting to military force.

Asif reiterated that Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan, but several Afghan leaders want the status quo to continue for their own vested interests

Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif, in an attempt to clarify Pakitan's position, asked the international community to stop accusing the country of the presence of Haqqani Network and Hafiz Saeed. He claimed that these terrorists were the 'darlings' of the United States a few decades ago

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan took a shot at Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on the social media platform Twitter for his recent comments regarding Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Haqqani network. In a chain of tweets, Khan claimed that Dawn Leaks was a “deliberate attempt by PMLN” to target Pakistan’s military. He further alleged that the “Sharifs and their cronies” were desperate to appease Indo-US lobby. Now evident that DawnLeaks was a deliberate attempt by PMLN to target Pak mly at a time when it is fighting our enemies on multiple fronts pic.twitter.com/pp9ecmNbEU — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 28, 2017 × Sharifs & their cronies desperate to appease Indo-US lobby & interests as their loot/properties all stashed away in West. https://t.co/LJiX6eEoHx — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 28, 2017 × Their continuous targeting of our armed forces continues today as part of this Indo-US appeasement. No concern for Pak lives sacrificed https://t.co/RaqQAMx9PS — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 28, 2017 × Kh Asif's comments of ownership of militant gps coming from a Foreign Min undermining Pak security. With such a FM, who needs enemies? https://t.co/2fAqxMUHYh — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 28, 2017 × Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif, in an attempt to clarify Pakitan's position, asked the international community to stop accusing the country of the presence of Haqqani Network and Hafiz Saeed. He claimed that these "terrorists" were the "darlings" of the United States a few decades ago. "Don't blame us for the Haqqanis [the Haqqani Network] and don't blame us for the Hafiz Saeed, chief of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa. These were the people who were your darlings just 20 to 30 years back. They were being dined and wined in the White House, and now, you say 'go to hell Pakistanis because you are nurturing these people," The Dawn quoted Asif saying at the Asia Society in New York. "It is very easy to say Pakistan is floating the Haqqanis and Hafiz Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. They are liabilities. I accept that they are liabilities, but give us time to get rid of them, because we don't have the assets to match these liabilities and you are increasing our liabilities further," the foreging minister said. Asif is attending the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. He also expressed Islamabad's eagerness to work alongside the US. "Pakistan stands ready for effective management of the Afghan border to stop terrorist infiltration and to facilitate a peace settlement in Afghanistan," he said. The US has previously blamed Pakistan for not taking compelling action against the Haqqani Network. Washington states that the militant group has been operating out of "Pakistan-based safe havens" causing threat to the US and native forces in Afghanistan. Asif said that Islamabad cannot be held responsible for the tensions in Afghanistan, claiming that peace cannot be established only through the strategy applied by the US and would require negotiated settlement. "Pakistan cannot owe responsibility for peace and security in Afghanistan, adding that effective border management with Afghanistan is imperative to stop the infiltration of terrorists," the News International quoted Asif, as saying while addressing the Asia Society in New York. Asif said that the United States cannot succeed in Afghanistan by waging war, adding that for the last 16 years, it is clear that peace will not be restored by resorting to military force. Asif reiterated that Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan, but several Afghan leaders want the status quo to continue for their own vested interests

Imran Khan believes that Asif's comments undermine Pakistan's security

The US defense department has withheld military payments to Pakistan after Pentagon chief Jim Mattis determined that Pakistan&nbsp;was not doing enough to counter the Haqqani network, an official said Friday.

&quot;Secretary Mattis has informed congressional defense committees that he was not able to certify that Pakistan has taken sufficient actions against the Haqqani network to permit full reimbursement of Fiscal Year 2016 Coalition Support Funds,&quot; Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.

&quot;This decision does not reduce the significance of the sacrifices that the Pakistani military has undertaken over previous years,&quot; Stump said.

&quot;Pakistan still has time to take action against the Haqqani network in order to influence the secretary&#39;s certification decision in FY17,&quot; he added.

The Haqqani network based in Afghanistan is aligned to the Taliban, it was earlier linked to Osama bin Laden&#39;s al Qaida in the 80s.

The network led by Jalaluddin Haqqani moved to Pakistan&#39;s tribal area after the US attacked Afghanistan in 2001. The Obama administration had designated the Haqqani network as a &quot;foreign terrorist organisation&quot; five years ago.

The Taliban, however, denies any link to the&nbsp;Haqqani network.

&nbsp;

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The US has been frustrated by Pakistan&#39;s unwillingness to act against terror groups (WION)
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Pentagon chief Jim Mattis determined that Pakistan was not doing enough to counter the Haqqani network

The US defense department has withheld military payments to Pakistan after Pentagon chief Jim Mattis determined that Pakistan was not doing enough to counter the Haqqani network, an official said Friday. "Secretary Mattis has informed congressional defense committees that he was not able to certify that Pakistan has taken sufficient actions against the Haqqani network to permit full reimbursement of Fiscal Year 2016 Coalition Support Funds," Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said. "This decision does not reduce the significance of the sacrifices that the Pakistani military has undertaken over previous years," Stump said. "Pakistan still has time to take action against the Haqqani network in order to influence the secretary's certification decision in FY17," he added. The Haqqani network based in Afghanistan is aligned to the Taliban, it was earlier linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaida in the 80s. The network led by Jalaluddin Haqqani moved to Pakistan's tribal area after the US attacked Afghanistan in 2001. The Obama administration had designated the Haqqani network as a "foreign terrorist organisation" five years ago. The Taliban, however, denies any link to the Haqqani network. The US has been frustrated by Pakistan's unwillingness to act against terror groups (WION) ×

US defense department blocks military payments to Pakistan

In a move that imposes strict conditions on reimbursements by US for defence spending by Pakistan, the US House of Representatives voted for three amendments to its National Defence Authorisation Act, 2018, that make it conditional to Islamabad&#39;s satisfactory progress in the fight against terrorism. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The conditions are related to Pakistan&#39;s support to terrorists and terror outfits, about which several top US officials and lawmakers have repeatedly expressed concern about in the past.

The National Defence Authorisation Act, 2018, authorises defence spending for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2017 and was adopted by the House 344-81.

The bill, as passed by the House, requires the Secretary of Defence to certify, prior to making any reimbursement to Pakistan, that Islamabad is maintaining security along the Ground Lines of Communication through Pakistan, taking demonstrable steps to support counterterrorism operations, disrupting cross border attacks, and countering the threat of improvised explosive devices.

It also specifies that of the total amount of reimbursement and support authorised for Pakistan during the period beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on December 31, 2018-- USD 400 million-- would not be eligible for a national security waiver unless the Secretary of Defence certifies that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations against the Haqqani Network in North Waziristan.

The Defence Secretary also needs to certify that Pakistan is demonstrating commitment to preventing the Haqqani network from using North Waziristan as a safe haven, and is actively coordinating with the Government of Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, including the Haqqani Network, along the Pak-Afghan border.

Two of these amendments were moved by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and one by Ted Poe.

&quot;Today, Congress took a step forward to end Pakistan&#39;s betrayal of the US with the addition of an additional certification requirement,&quot; said Poe, a Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation &amp; Trade.

One of Poe&#39;s amendment, as passed by the House proposes to withhold reimbursement funding for Pakistan unless the Secretary of Defence can certify that Pakistan is not providing military, financial, or logistical support to any individuals designated by the US as a terrorist operating in Pakistan or Afghanistan.

NDAA, as passed by the House, now requires that the Pentagon assess Pakistan&#39;s support for known terrorists before handing over US dollars to Islamabad, Poe said.

&quot;Making excess military equipment available to federal, state, and law enforcement agencies along our southern border will provide much-needed support and reinforcements to the men and women who are our first line of defence,&quot; he said.

&quot;It is well known that Pakistan is a Benedict Arnold ally who supports multiple terrorist organisations, including groups that target Americans working to stabilise Afghanistan.

&quot;But current limitations on military reimbursement funding to Pakistan only apply to one terrorist group: the Haqqani Network,&quot; Poe said in a statement.

The legislative amendment moved by Rohrabacher adds a stipulation requiring that, prior to the disbursement of certain funds, the Secretary of Defence certify to Congress that Pakistan is not using its military or any funds or equipment provided by the US to persecute minority groups seeking political or religious freedom.

Another Rohrabacher amendment expresses a sense of Congress that Shakil Afridi is an international hero and that the Government of Pakistan should release him immediately from prison.

&quot;Dr Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani physician, is a hero to whom the people of the United States, Pakistan and the world owe a debt of gratitude for his help in finally locating Osama bin Laden before 10 more innocent American, Pakistani and other lives were lost to this terrorist leader,&quot; the amendment said.

Pakistan&#39;s imprisonment of Afridi presents a serious and growing impediment to the United States&#39; bilateral relations with Pakistan, said the amendment as passed by the House of Representatives.

The conditions are related to Pakistan's support to terrorists and terror outfits, about which several top US officials and lawmakers have repeatedly expressed concern about

In a move that imposes strict conditions on reimbursements by US for defence spending by Pakistan, the US House of Representatives voted for three amendments to its National Defence Authorisation Act, 2018, that make it conditional to Islamabad's satisfactory progress in the fight against terrorism. The conditions are related to Pakistan's support to terrorists and terror outfits, about which several top US officials and lawmakers have repeatedly expressed concern about in the past. The National Defence Authorisation Act, 2018, authorises defence spending for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2017 and was adopted by the House 344-81. The bill, as passed by the House, requires the Secretary of Defence to certify, prior to making any reimbursement to Pakistan, that Islamabad is maintaining security along the Ground Lines of Communication through Pakistan, taking demonstrable steps to support counterterrorism operations, disrupting cross border attacks, and countering the threat of improvised explosive devices. It also specifies that of the total amount of reimbursement and support authorised for Pakistan during the period beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on December 31, 2018-- USD 400 million-- would not be eligible for a national security waiver unless the Secretary of Defence certifies that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations against the Haqqani Network in North Waziristan. The Defence Secretary also needs to certify that Pakistan is demonstrating commitment to preventing the Haqqani network from using North Waziristan as a safe haven, and is actively coordinating with the Government of Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, including the Haqqani Network, along the Pak-Afghan border. Two of these amendments were moved by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and one by Ted Poe. "Today, Congress took a step forward to end Pakistan's betrayal of the US with the addition of an additional certification requirement," said Poe, a Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation & Trade. One of Poe's amendment, as passed by the House proposes to withhold reimbursement funding for Pakistan unless the Secretary of Defence can certify that Pakistan is not providing military, financial, or logistical support to any individuals designated by the US as a terrorist operating in Pakistan or Afghanistan. NDAA, as passed by the House, now requires that the Pentagon assess Pakistan's support for known terrorists before handing over US dollars to Islamabad, Poe said. "Making excess military equipment available to federal, state, and law enforcement agencies along our southern border will provide much-needed support and reinforcements to the men and women who are our first line of defence," he said. "It is well known that Pakistan is a Benedict Arnold ally who supports multiple terrorist organisations, including groups that target Americans working to stabilise Afghanistan. "But current limitations on military reimbursement funding to Pakistan only apply to one terrorist group: the Haqqani Network," Poe said in a statement. The legislative amendment moved by Rohrabacher adds a stipulation requiring that, prior to the disbursement of certain funds, the Secretary of Defence certify to Congress that Pakistan is not using its military or any funds or equipment provided by the US to persecute minority groups seeking political or religious freedom. Another Rohrabacher amendment expresses a sense of Congress that Shakil Afridi is an international hero and that the Government of Pakistan should release him immediately from prison. "Dr Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani physician, is a hero to whom the people of the United States, Pakistan and the world owe a debt of gratitude for his help in finally locating Osama bin Laden before 10 more innocent American, Pakistani and other lives were lost to this terrorist leader," the amendment said. Pakistan's imprisonment of Afridi presents a serious and growing impediment to the United States' bilateral relations with Pakistan, said the amendment as passed by the House of Representatives.

US imposes strict conditions on defence funding to Pakistan

Taking a tough stand against Pakistan ahead of his confirmation hearing, US defence secretary-designate James Mattis has said that he will tell Pakistan to &quot;expel or neutralise&quot; externally-focused militant groups operating with impunity within the country.

Mattis also said that US-Pakistan ties have had its highs and lows and that he will work towards rebuilding the trust that is needed for an effective partnership.

&quot;If confirmed, I will work with the State Department and the Congress to incentivise Pakistan&#39;s co-operation on issues critical to our national interests and the region&#39;s security, with focus on Pakistan&#39;s need to expel or neutralise externally-focused militant groups that operate within its borders,&quot; said Mattis.

Responding to a question if he supports conditioning US aid to Pakistan, the former Marine general said that &quot;conditioning our security assistance&quot; to Pakistan has a mixed history and that he will &quot;review all options&quot;.

Mattis told the lawmakers that Pakistan should collaborate more with its neighbour in combating terror.

&quot;I believe they should do more to collaborate with their neighbour. We should urge Pakistan to take further actions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network,&quot; Mattis said.

The Haqqani Network is a terrorist organisation which has targeted many Western and Indian interests including the bombing of Indian mission in Kabul in 2008.

Mattis also underlined&nbsp;that&nbsp;safe sanctuaries for Afghan Taliban and other terror groups inside Pakistan is a worry and that he will review efforts being done to deny such safe havens. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Sanctuaries and freedom of movement for the Afghan Taliban and associated militant networks inside Pakistani territory is a key operational issue faced by the Afghan security forces. If confirmed, I will examine efforts to deny sanctuary to the extremist forces undermining the stability and security of Afghanistan,&quot; he said, responding to a query.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Mattis said that US-Pak ties have had its 'highs and lows' and that he will work towards rebuilding the trust needed for a partnership

Taking a tough stand against Pakistan ahead of his confirmation hearing, US defence secretary-designate James Mattis has said that he will tell Pakistan to "expel or neutralise" externally-focused militant groups operating with impunity within the country. Mattis also said that US-Pakistan ties have had its highs and lows and that he will work towards rebuilding the trust that is needed for an effective partnership. "If confirmed, I will work with the State Department and the Congress to incentivise Pakistan's co-operation on issues critical to our national interests and the region's security, with focus on Pakistan's need to expel or neutralise externally-focused militant groups that operate within its borders," said Mattis. Responding to a question if he supports conditioning US aid to Pakistan, the former Marine general said that "conditioning our security assistance" to Pakistan has a mixed history and that he will "review all options". Mattis told the lawmakers that Pakistan should collaborate more with its neighbour in combating terror. "I believe they should do more to collaborate with their neighbour. We should urge Pakistan to take further actions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network," Mattis said. The Haqqani Network is a terrorist organisation which has targeted many Western and Indian interests including the bombing of Indian mission in Kabul in 2008. Mattis also underlined that safe sanctuaries for Afghan Taliban and other terror groups inside Pakistan is a worry and that he will review efforts being done to deny such safe havens. "Sanctuaries and freedom of movement for the Afghan Taliban and associated militant networks inside Pakistani territory is a key operational issue faced by the Afghan security forces. If confirmed, I will examine efforts to deny sanctuary to the extremist forces undermining the stability and security of Afghanistan," he said, responding to a query. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Incoming US defence secretary to Pakistan: Rein in 'externally-focused' terror groups

In a stern warning to Pakistan, the United States asked its partner to go clamp down on&nbsp;terror networks operating in their country, and said that it will not hesitate to act alone, when necessary. &nbsp;

The acting under secretary on countering the financing of terrorism, Adam Szubin, told a Washington audience that the US was committed to working with Pakistan to confront terrorist operations, but asserted that Washington would not shy away from taking unilateral action.&nbsp;

He said that Pakistan&#39;s powerful spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is not taking action to disrupt and destroy all existing terror networks in the country, or worse, supporting the groups.&nbsp;

&quot;The problem is that there are forces within the Pakistani government - specifically in Pakistan&#39;s Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI - that refuse to take similar steps against all the terrorist groups active in Pakistan, tolerating some groups - or even worse,&quot; Adam Szubin said. &quot;This is a distinction we cannot stand for.&quot;

&quot;We continue to urge our partners in Pakistan to go after all terrorist networks operating in their country. We stand ready to help them. But there should be no doubt that while we remain committed to working with Pakistan to confront ongoing terrorist financing and operations, the US will not hesitate to act alone, when necessary, to disrupt and destroy these networks,&quot; Szubin warned.

Washington insisted that Pakistan has been - and remains - a critical counter-terrorism partner in many respects as it has often been the victim of several brutal terror attacks on schools, markets and mosques.&nbsp;

&quot;Pakistan has achieved success in its ongoing operations against traditional terrorist safe havens in northwest Pakistan. It has officially designated Islamic State as a terrorist organisation. And it has gone after the funding and operational capabilities of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP,&quot; he said.

The US reiterated that Pakistan has not placed adequate pressure on the Haqqani network of militants to prevent them from plotting attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, had said last month, &quot;the Haqqanis operationally have been able to continue to conduct operations in&nbsp;Afghanistan. They constitute the primary threat to Americans, to coalition members and to Afghans, especially in and around Kabul.&quot; But Pakistan continues to deny the presence of militant sanctuaries on their side of the border.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Sending a strong message to Islamabad, Washington said Pakistan's spy agency was not acting against all terror groups on its soil

In a stern warning to Pakistan, the United States asked its partner to go clamp down on terror networks operating in their country, and said that it will not hesitate to act alone, when necessary. The acting under secretary on countering the financing of terrorism, Adam Szubin, told a Washington audience that the US was committed to working with Pakistan to confront terrorist operations, but asserted that Washington would not shy away from taking unilateral action. He said that Pakistan's powerful spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is not taking action to disrupt and destroy all existing terror networks in the country, or worse, supporting the groups. "The problem is that there are forces within the Pakistani government - specifically in Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI - that refuse to take similar steps against all the terrorist groups active in Pakistan, tolerating some groups - or even worse," Adam Szubin said. "This is a distinction we cannot stand for." "We continue to urge our partners in Pakistan to go after all terrorist networks operating in their country. We stand ready to help them. But there should be no doubt that while we remain committed to working with Pakistan to confront ongoing terrorist financing and operations, the US will not hesitate to act alone, when necessary, to disrupt and destroy these networks," Szubin warned. Washington insisted that Pakistan has been - and remains - a critical counter-terrorism partner in many respects as it has often been the victim of several brutal terror attacks on schools, markets and mosques. "Pakistan has achieved success in its ongoing operations against traditional terrorist safe havens in northwest Pakistan. It has officially designated Islamic State as a terrorist organisation. And it has gone after the funding and operational capabilities of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP," he said. The US reiterated that Pakistan has not placed adequate pressure on the Haqqani network of militants to prevent them from plotting attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan. The commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, had said last month, "the Haqqanis operationally have been able to continue to conduct operations in Afghanistan. They constitute the primary threat to Americans, to coalition members and to Afghans, especially in and around Kabul." But Pakistan continues to deny the presence of militant sanctuaries on their side of the border. (WION with inputs from agencies)

US warns Pakistan: Ready to act unilaterally to destroy terror networks if ISI continues supporting militants

The US blocked USD 300 million military aid to&nbsp;Islamabad as it failed to get a Congressional certification for&nbsp;&quot;satisfactory&quot; action against the dreaded Haqqani network, the Pentagon has&nbsp;said as it warned that it was in Pakistan&#39;s interest to take action against&nbsp;terrorists. 
 
The Haqqani Network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks&nbsp;against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian&nbsp;targets. 
 
The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests&nbsp;in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that&nbsp;killed 58 people. 
 
The Pentagon said it was in Pakistan&#39;s interest to take action against&nbsp;terrorists in &quot;as many ways as possible&quot;. 
 
&quot;We continue to have a close relationship with Pakistan with regard to&nbsp;terrorism and fighting terrorism. (But) It&#39;s obviously in Pakistan&#39;s own&nbsp;interest and the United States interest to combat terrorism in as many ways&nbsp;as possible,&quot; Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters yesterday. 
 
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter did not give Congressional certification&nbsp;to Pakistan for satisfactory action against the Haqqani network this year,&nbsp;Cook said. 
 
In the absence of the certification, the Pentagon blocked disbursement of USD&nbsp;300 million to Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund, which is essentially&nbsp;reimbursement money for the expenses made by Pakistan Army in support of US&nbsp;operations in Afghanistan. 
 
&quot;With regard to that USD 300 million, there was a (June 30) deadline in terms&nbsp;of whether or not to transfer that money or to use that money in other ways,&nbsp;and it was determined that at this moment in time, it was best to reprogramme&nbsp;that money in other directions,&quot; Cook said. 
 
The Washington Post, which first reported about it, has described the&nbsp;withholding of the US military assistance to Pakistan as a &quot;potential blow&quot;&nbsp;to US-Pak ties. 
 
The Pentagon press secretary, however, said the US will continue to work&nbsp;&quot;closely with Pakistan and we&#39;ve seen significant efforts on the part of the&nbsp;Pakistanis.&quot; 
 
(PTI)

The group has carried out a number of attacks?against US and Indian interests in Afghanistan

The US blocked USD 300 million military aid to Islamabad as it failed to get a Congressional certification for "satisfactory" action against the dreaded Haqqani network, the Pentagon has said as it warned that it was in Pakistan's interest to take action against terrorists. The Haqqani Network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets. The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. The Pentagon said it was in Pakistan's interest to take action against terrorists in "as many ways as possible". "We continue to have a close relationship with Pakistan with regard to terrorism and fighting terrorism. (But) It's obviously in Pakistan's own interest and the United States interest to combat terrorism in as many ways as possible," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters yesterday. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter did not give Congressional certification to Pakistan for satisfactory action against the Haqqani network this year, Cook said. In the absence of the certification, the Pentagon blocked disbursement of USD 300 million to Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund, which is essentially reimbursement money for the expenses made by Pakistan Army in support of US operations in Afghanistan. "With regard to that USD 300 million, there was a (June 30) deadline in terms of whether or not to transfer that money or to use that money in other ways, and it was determined that at this moment in time, it was best to reprogramme that money in other directions," Cook said. The Washington Post, which first reported about it, has described the withholding of the US military assistance to Pakistan as a "potential blow" to US-Pak ties. The Pentagon press secretary, however, said the US will continue to work "closely with Pakistan and we've seen significant efforts on the part of the Pakistanis." (PTI)

In Pak's interest to take action against Haqqani network: Pentagon

The US should adopt a policy of &quot;total isolation&quot; against Pakistan to send a signal that it faces the prospect of becoming a &quot;second North Korea&quot; if it continues destabilising Afghanistan by supporting the Taliban and Haqqani network, a former top American diplomat has said. 
 
&quot;In the aftermath of the US drone attack killing Taliban leader Mullah Mansour, this is the time to increase the pressure by suspending all assistance to Pakistan -- military and civilian -- and move towards isolating Pakistan internationally, including not supporting IMF renewal of financial support,&quot; Zalmay Khalilzad, a former top American diplomat in the Bush Administration, told PTI. 
 
Khalilzad, who played a key role America&#39;s policy towards Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq after 9/11 terror attack, said the US should adopt a policy of &quot;total isolation&quot; against Pakistan. 
 
Such a policy, he argued would send a signal to Pakistan that it faces the prospect of becoming a &quot;second North Korea&quot; unless it changes its course on Afghanistan. 
 
Khalilzad was the highest ranking Muslim American in the history of the United States. He was the US ambassador to the United Nations under former president George W Bush. 
 
He also served as the US ambassador to Afghanistan and headed the country&#39;s diplomatic mission in Iraq. 
 
&quot;If Pakistan truly changes course, then the US should be willing to be supportive in a significant way. But we have to substantially escalate the cost of Pakistan&#39;s hostile policy in Afghanistan,&quot; he said. 
 
Khalilzad also called for retaining the current level of forces in Afghanistan and more flexible rules of engagement for US forces until the next President reviews the situation in Afghanistan and decides on a new policy. 
 
&quot;While there are some potential risks in isolating Pakistan, there are real risks with continuing the current course in Afghanistan and Pakistan,&quot; he said and called for having a contingency plan to deal with the nuclear scenario risks. 
 
&quot;In fact (US forces) being in Afghanistan would help in addressing such challenges promptly,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;The choice we have made hasn&#39;t really worked for the last 15 years in terms of changing Pakistan&#39;s two-faced policy. The time has come to adjust that policy. In my view a better option is international isolation of Pakistan,&quot; Khalilzad argued. 
 
&quot;The role that Pakistan has played....Is that of a double game. It has signalled on the one hand that it wants to be helpful to the United States in fighting terrorism and stabilising Afghanistan. But on the other hand, in reality, it has been energetically supporting the Taliban and the Haqqani network to achieve the very opposite. That has been the essence of the Pakistan policy on Afghanistan,&quot; he said. 
 
Noting that Pakistan&#39;s Afghan policy is determined by the Army and the ISI, Khalilzad said that the reason for such a policy is that they believe that by supporting the Taliban and the Haqqani network, they can achieve the goal of dominating Afghanistan. 
 
&quot;An alternative explanation is that the status quo of an unstable Afghanistan with ongoing fighting, in which they have relationship with the Taliban and the Haqqani network and key players, is seen by Pakistan as favorable to its interests. 
 
&quot;In my view they want peace and stability in Afghanistan only if the country is controlled by a group, such as the Taliban and the Haqqani network which they control or have strong influence over,&quot; he claimed. 
 
&quot;Pakistan is the landlord and the Taliban is living in the house that Pakistan owns. This gives them huge leverage. Actually the relationship is even stronger than a landlord and tenant. It is one of sponsor and sponsorees,&quot; he said. 
 
Currently, chairman of the Atlantic Council&#39;s South Asia Center&#39;s advisory board, and president of Gryphon Partnerson, Khalilzad will deliver a talk on his new book &#39;The Envoy: From Kabul to the White House, My Journey Through a Turbulent World&#39; at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on July 1. 
 
(PTI)

He said Pakistan faces the prospect of becoming a second 'North Korea' if it continues to destabilise Afghanistan by supporting Taliban

The US should adopt a policy of "total isolation" against Pakistan to send a signal that it faces the prospect of becoming a "second North Korea" if it continues destabilising Afghanistan by supporting the Taliban and Haqqani network, a former top American diplomat has said. "In the aftermath of the US drone attack killing Taliban leader Mullah Mansour, this is the time to increase the pressure by suspending all assistance to Pakistan -- military and civilian -- and move towards isolating Pakistan internationally, including not supporting IMF renewal of financial support," Zalmay Khalilzad, a former top American diplomat in the Bush Administration, told PTI. Khalilzad, who played a key role America's policy towards Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq after 9/11 terror attack, said the US should adopt a policy of "total isolation" against Pakistan. Such a policy, he argued would send a signal to Pakistan that it faces the prospect of becoming a "second North Korea" unless it changes its course on Afghanistan. Khalilzad was the highest ranking Muslim American in the history of the United States. He was the US ambassador to the United Nations under former president George W Bush. He also served as the US ambassador to Afghanistan and headed the country's diplomatic mission in Iraq. "If Pakistan truly changes course, then the US should be willing to be supportive in a significant way. But we have to substantially escalate the cost of Pakistan's hostile policy in Afghanistan," he said. Khalilzad also called for retaining the current level of forces in Afghanistan and more flexible rules of engagement for US forces until the next President reviews the situation in Afghanistan and decides on a new policy. "While there are some potential risks in isolating Pakistan, there are real risks with continuing the current course in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said and called for having a contingency plan to deal with the nuclear scenario risks. "In fact (US forces) being in Afghanistan would help in addressing such challenges promptly," he said. "The choice we have made hasn't really worked for the last 15 years in terms of changing Pakistan's two-faced policy. The time has come to adjust that policy. In my view a better option is international isolation of Pakistan," Khalilzad argued. "The role that Pakistan has played....Is that of a double game. It has signalled on the one hand that it wants to be helpful to the United States in fighting terrorism and stabilising Afghanistan. But on the other hand, in reality, it has been energetically supporting the Taliban and the Haqqani network to achieve the very opposite. That has been the essence of the Pakistan policy on Afghanistan," he said. Noting that Pakistan's Afghan policy is determined by the Army and the ISI, Khalilzad said that the reason for such a policy is that they believe that by supporting the Taliban and the Haqqani network, they can achieve the goal of dominating Afghanistan. "An alternative explanation is that the status quo of an unstable Afghanistan with ongoing fighting, in which they have relationship with the Taliban and the Haqqani network and key players, is seen by Pakistan as favorable to its interests. "In my view they want peace and stability in Afghanistan only if the country is controlled by a group, such as the Taliban and the Haqqani network which they control or have strong influence over," he claimed. "Pakistan is the landlord and the Taliban is living in the house that Pakistan owns. This gives them huge leverage. Actually the relationship is even stronger than a landlord and tenant. It is one of sponsor and sponsorees," he said. Currently, chairman of the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center's advisory board, and president of Gryphon Partnerson, Khalilzad will deliver a talk on his new book 'The Envoy: From Kabul to the White House, My Journey Through a Turbulent World' at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on July 1. (PTI)

US should adopt policy of total isolation against Pakistan: former American diplomat

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