A predictable reaction from Islamabad to the Secretary of Defense's pointed criticism of Pakistan's refusal to take on the Haqqani network.
Also predictably, Pakistan is demanding "proof," and continuing its recent diversionary tactic of accusing the U.S. and NATO of being culpably negligent in ensuring border security, in a situation they portray as analogous to what Pakistan has been accused of for years.
Never mind the attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan that are organized by Pakistan-based jihadists. Whether it is a crisis to Pakistan depends on which way across the border the attacks are directed. "Pakistan says U.S. warning on militants hurts ties," by Zeeshan Haider and Qasim Nauman for Reuters, September 15:
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The U.S. warning on militants based in Pakistan, blamed by Washington for this week's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, works against counter-terrorism cooperation between the two allies, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
It was referring to comments by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that Washington would do whatever it takes to defend American forces in Afghanistan from Pakistan-based militants.
"We believe these remarks are not in line with the cooperation that exists between the two countries," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua told reporters.
U.S. officials suspect militants from the Haqqani network were behind Tuesday's rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in the Afghan capital, as well as a truck bomb last Saturday that wounded 77 U.S. force ambers. [sic]
Darn you, Autocorrect...
"Time and again we've urged the Pakistanis to exercise their influence over these kinds of attacks from the Haqqanis. And we have made very little progress in that area," Panetta told reporters flying with him to San Francisco on Wednesday.
"I think the message they need to know is: we're going to do everything we can to defend our forces."
After 10 years:
Pakistani officials said there was no proof of such cross-border operations.
The comments are likely to raise tension between the uneasy allies. Relations dropped to a low point after a unilateral U.S. special forces raid killed Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani town in May.
"Pakistan and the United States have strategic cooperation. We hope to discuss these issues in a cooperative manner," Janjua told a news conference. Pakistani officials said it was the responsibility of U.S.-led forces to crack down on militants when they enter Afghanistan.
"We are using all our resources to fight terrorism. As far as these issues like Haqqani network launching attacks from Pakistani territory is concerned, has any proof ever been given?" said a senior Pakistani military official who asked not to be identified.
Panetta declined to answer questions about what steps the United States might take to defend U.S. forces. The CIA has had success targeting militants in Pakistan using drones, and has tried to take out figures in the Haqqani network.
A senior Pakistani government official involved in defense policy said the South Asian country, reliant on billions of dollars in U.S. aid, was doing all it could to stop militants from crossing the border to Afghanistan.
Once they are in Afghanistan, they are supposedly someone else's problem, not Pakistan's:
"But if the militants are doing something inside Afghanistan, then it is the responsibility of the Afghan and Western forces to hold them on the borders," he said. "They let everyone go scot-free on their side (of the border) and then they say Pakistan is not doing enough."
"Time and again we've urged the Pakistanis to exercise their influence over these kinds of attacks from the Haqqanis. And we have made very little progress in that area..."
Well, gee whiz, I don't know how that could be. After all, Pakistani intelligence has given us nothing but whole-hearted support so far! Remember how they immediately told us bin Laden had set up a compound within their borders, a mere thirty miles from an Army garrison? No, wait...
"... the South Asian country, reliant on billions of dollars in U.S. aid..."
Why don't we tell Pakistan to rely on some other sucker for billions in aid?
We can bring our dollars and our troops home, and station them along the Mexican border, where we have our own problems with cross-border raiders.
The Haqqanis and sadistic thug Gulbeddin Hekmatyar who is in the league of his own when it comes to cruelty even by Afghan standards, were the most favored by our CIA. They got many, many, many times more Stingers and other advanced weaponry than the 5 other "Mujaheddin" groups. This is despite the 2 being absolutely openly anti-Western and anti-American. I have noticed long ago that being more anti-American causes the CIA and the US State Dept. sociopaths to be more dhimmi-subservient to jihadis, not less. Through the Pakistani ISI who still aid them, the CIA also trained H & H in making malleable-explosive bombs of any shape, roadside bombs, IED's, and, yes, car and truck bombs. They are now using that trade on our American soldiers. Who is responsible for this travesty? None else that Robert Gates who was the CIA official, then director in charge of aiding the Afghan/Arab al-Qaida jihad against the Russians. It was Hekmatyar who had personally introduced bin Laden to Gates and other CIA. Gates is responsible for both the 9/11 and our losing war in Afghanistan, where our GI's are walking in the Russians' boots. But admitting responsibility is not a CIA sociopath's trait. Instead, Gates blames his own jihad masters' deeds ... on Israel! "Israel makes the Muslims angry, so what can I do". Such is the nature of a sociopath. There is a saying in my Old Country Russia: "Don't dig a pit for someone else lest you end up in it yourself".
Gates resigned earlier this year as the US Secretary Of Defense leaving the United States in the Afghan pit of his own digging. The hapless Panetta succeeded him at the bottom of the pit, stuck with the hopeless task of reparing Gates' damage. Lucky him!
This is why I keep saying here: He who aids jihad against ANYBODY (Russia, China, Serbia, Uzbekistan), aids it against EVERYBODY, including himself.
Read a great book "Ghost Wars" by Steve Call, a fascinating comprehensive, full and accurate account of the Reagan/Gates Afghan adventure. It had me nodding enthusiastically throughout reading, as it refreshed in my memory events that I already knew. I was going: "Yes, yes, this is exactly what happened". This book is a treasure of very valuable information. Other great books detailing US aiding jihad and appeasing the Muslims are "The Looming Towers" by Lawrence Wright and "The Cell" by John Miller.
Ruslan Tokhchukov, EnragedSince1999.
"We are using all our resources to fight terrorism"
That is why when Bin laden escaped into Pasistan there were seen mulyible members of Al Queda (identified due to their clothing preferences)walking about as if they were Pasistani citizens. and what do they say to Bin Laden hiding out in full view in Pakistan for 10 years?
"Once they are in Afghanistan, they are supposedly someone else's problem, not Pakistan's"
Well, how do they come up with that excuse when the terrorists come from Pakistan into Afganistan? Moe bullshit from Pakistan for sure. I don't see why The US is paying these non-complients in the first place.
You wrote:
"None else that Robert Gates who was the CIA official, then director in charge of aiding the Afghan/Arab al-Qaida jihad against the Russians. It was Hekmatyar who had personally introduced bin Laden to Gates and other CIA. Gates is responsible for both the 9/11 and our losing war in Afghanistan, where our GI's are walking in the Russians' boots. But admitting responsibility is not a CIA sociopath's trait. Instead, Gates blames his own jihad masters' deeds ... on Israel! "Israel makes the Muslims angry, so what can I do". Such is the nature of a sociopath. There is a saying in my Old Country Russia: "Don't dig a pit for someone else lest you end up in it yourself".""
_________________________
Excellent analysis and absolutely truthful, Enraged.
We must pull ALL of our troops out immediately, and extricate ourselves, collectively from the mess we got ourselves into...