Pakistan's military will not take action against the Haqqani militant group that Washington blames for an attack against its embassy in Kabul, despite mounting American pressure to do so, a Pakistani newspaper reported on Monday.
The Pakistani commanders agreed to resist US demands for an army offensive in North Waziristan, where the United States believes the Haqqani network is based, the Express Tribune reported, quoting an unnamed military official.
“We have already conveyed to the US that Pakistan cannot go beyond what it has already done,” the official told the newspaper.
The United States accuses the Pakistani army’s powerful spy agency of supporting the Haqqani militant group, a chief driver of violence in eastern Afghanistan.
Salim Saifullah, chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Foreign Relations committee, said he and other officials held talks with diplomats to explain Pakistan’s stand as the United States pushes the Pakistani Army to go after the Haqqani network.
“We have been meeting with diplomats with the purpose to convey Pakistan’s point of view, and also that they should make the United States understand that we have sacrificed so much,” he said.
He did not name the countries with which the discussions had taken place.
“We are willing to go along but not at the cost of being humiliated and told that ‘you’re responsible for the Kabul attack and you are responsible for this thing and that.’ That is not appropriate.”
About 5,000 soldiers and security forces have been killed fighting militants and 30,000 civilians have died since Pakistan joined the US “war on terror” launched after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, which the United States doesn’t appreciate, Pakistani officials say. Pakistan will almost certainly seek the backing of China. Pakistan and China are long-time allies, and in recent months Islamabad has leaned closer to China as its ties with the United States have deteriorated.
China’s Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu arrived in Islamabad on Monday and was scheduled to meet senior officials. “China is always there for us,” said Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik as he welcomed Meng.
Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani held a “special” meeting with his top commanders on Sunday to discuss the security situation, the military said, after a week of tension and tit-for-tat rhetoric with the United States.
Kayani was scheduled to leave for London on Sunday night but the trip was postponed, the Pakistani military said on Monday.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar is expected to present Pakistan’s case when she addresses the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
American Ambassador Cameron Munter met with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Monday to defuse tensions.
Analysts say the Pakistani military could suffer heavy casualties if it were to attempt a crackdown on the group, which has developed extensive alliances with other militant organizations in the region.
Widespread anti-American sentiment in Pakistan also makes it difficult for the army to cave in to US pressure.
“Are we responsible for the attacks that Taleban do throughout the country?” asked Khan Alam Marwat, 40, a car salesman in Islamabad. “It was a big mistake of our rulers that they supported Americans.”
