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Clinton describes Haqqani network threat to Pakistan, Afghanistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Oct. 21 , IRNA -- The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on Friday termed the Taliban-linked Haqqani network as a serious threat to both Afghanistan and Pakistan and urged Islamabad to take action against the safe heavens of all such groups on its soil.

“With respect to the Haqqanis, we both agreed that terrorism coming from any source is a threat to all of us. We expressed very clearly our concerns about safe heavens on both sides of the border,” Clinton told a joint news conference along with her Pakistani counterpart after their formal talks.

“We reasserted our commitment to doing more on the Afghan side of the border to try to eliminate safe heavens that fuel insurgency and attacks inside Pakistan. And we asked very specifically for greater cooperation from Pakistani side to squeeze the Haqqani network and other terrorists because we know trying to eliminate terrorists on one side not going to work,” she said.

Pakistani Foreign Minister admitted that her country could do more to prevent militant groups from operating within its borders. Hina Rabbani Khar dispelled the impression that Pakistani institutions support the insurgent groups and said that insurgent safe havens exist on both sides of the border with Afghanistan and the two countries could co-operate better to tackle the problem.

Hillary Clinton issued a stern warning that action would have to be taken against militants if they continued attacks into Afghanistan.

She said that these efforts would focus on getting the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as the Haqqani network, involved.

'Now we have to turn our attention here on the Pakistani Taliban, Afghan Taliban, Haqqani and other terrorist groups and try to get them into a peace process,' the Secretary of State said.

'But if that failed, prevent them from committing more violence and murdering more innocent people,' she said.

Clinton said that the US asked very specifically for greater cooperation from the Pakistani side to squeeze the Haqqani network and other terrorists. “We know that trying to eliminate terrorists and safe havens on one side of the border is not going to work,' she added.

'You can't keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbours,' Clinton said’

'We look to Pakistan to take strong steps to deny Afghan insurgents safe havens and to encourage the Taliban to enter negotiations in good faith,' she insisted.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar admitted that safe havens are exit on both sides of the border but denied support from Pakistani institutions to these elements.

“Yes, they do exist both sides. Do we need to cooperate? Yes. We can cooperate more and achieve better results,' Khar said.

'There is no question of any support by any Pakistani institutions to safe havens. Let me be very clear and unequivocal on that,' she added.

**1420
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30623477