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Pakistan has links with Afghan militant group: US envoy

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Sept 18, IRNA -- U.S. Ambassador in Islamabad, Cameron Munter, has claimed that Washington has evidence of Pakistan’s relations with the al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network blamed for the recent attacks on US embassy and NATO offices in Kabul.

Cameron Munter told Radio Pakistan there are apparent ties between Islamabad and the Haqqani network, which the US claims is based in North Waziristan tribal region.

Munter called for cutting ties between the Haqqani network and Pakistan.

Pakistan has denied any links with the Haqqani network and head of the group Saturday said that it does not base in Pakistan but is active in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Secretary Defence Leon Panetta and NATO have blamed the Haqqani network for attacks on U.S. and NATO troops and on U.S. targets, including the September 13 strike against the U.S. embassy in Kabul.

The US Ambassador also said that all peace loving people of the region should unite to fight against the Haqqani network that poses threat not only to the US and its allies but also to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said the recent attack on the US Embassy in Kabul was carried out by Haqqani network and “we will not allow this to happen again”. He said this must be stopped and Pakistan and the US should work together especially in the area of intelligence to defeat elements.

Asked what about safe havens on the other side of the border into Afghanistan from where attacks are carried out inside Pakistani territory, the US envoy said, “We should identify all such elements and fight them together”. He said both countries need to pursue them where-ever they are.

Replying to a question about state of Pakistan-US relations, Cameron Munter acknowledged that these are witnessing tough time but hoped that the two countries can work together to resolve them for their common good.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30568904