By Mike Mount
Pakistan is taking steps to try to limit terrorist safe havens inside the lawless western part of that country where various insurgent groups operating in Afghanistan find sanctuary, according to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Speaking to reporters traveling with him overseas, Panetta said recent meetings between the United States and Pakistan yielded encouraging signs that Pakistan is working on the long-standing problem.
"My sense is that they're in a better place, that they understand their responsibility," Panetta said. "General Kiyani [Pakistan's military chief], in particular, has indicated a willingness to try to put more pressure on the safe havens," Panetta said.
The United States and Pakistan have had a frosty relationship over the past few years during which time Pakistan closed border crossings or supply routes following a series of incidents.
These included U.S. troops firing into Pakistan while chasing insurgents, the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by American special forces in May 2011 in Pakistan, and NATO shelling that killed a number of Pakistani soldiers in November of that same year.
"Actions have to speak louder than words," Panetta said. "I do believe that they are in a better place in the sense that they understand the threat they should deal with."
Pakistani safe havens have harbored terrorist groups like the Haqqani network that operate with almost no impunity in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Haqqani network is blamed for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan as well as conducting numerous terrorist attacks inside Afghanistan. Haqqani forces are able to then move back into Pakistan out of reach of U.S. and Afghan security forces.
Haqqani leadership is thought to be headquartered in Western Pakistan as well as other insurgent groups and financiers for insurgent activity inside Afghanistan.
Elements of the Taliban leadership are also believed to be holed up in the area.
The United States is able to target some of these groups or individuals deep inside Pakistan through CIA drone strikes in coordination with the Pakistan government. But the U.S. military and Afghan forces, by law, are not allowed to conduct operations into Pakistan.
On Monday, the Pentagon released its latest progress report on Afghanistan which noted continued movement of insurgents over the border into Pakistani safe havens, an issue that has complicated efforts to put Afghanistan on a more secure footing.
Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan remains volatile because of the ease of movement by insurgent organizations such as the Haqqani network and other groups, which finance anti-Afghan and coalition operations, according to the report.
"Safe havens in Pakistan persist despite improving ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as better U.S.-Pakistan relations, according to an American defense official who briefed reporters about the report.
The cross-border issue is also a sticking point with the Afghan government for reconciliation with the Taliban and other tribal groups in Afghanistan.
Panetta said the reconciliation process was discussed at meetings with various factions.
"The Pakistani's have indicated that they are willing to try to assist in this effort. Reconciliation is a complicated process." Panetta said. "I think at this point, everyone's sense is that we have to at least make the effort to try to see if we can develop some kind of political solution to this effort."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Help | Advertising Practices
With such "Dark Age" culture still in existence in India how can the world be healthy and the neighbors prosperous. India poses a grave danger to the world and its deities and leaders set a bad example. Mahatma Gandhi, a pedophile, needs to be exposed and tried posthumously for his child molestation crimes just like the Penn State crowd Sandusky et al. Gandhi's statutes need to be knocked down everywhere they have been put in USA. The hindu deities need to be shattered and trashed. Disgusting figurines of ugly and scary looking characters with demonic personalities. How can hindu children grow up mentally stable looking at such atrocious representations of evil in its most heinous form.
The US should be inspired by the fear and obedience any Muslim cleric draws from their people. These Islamic rats have the power to transform any person into an irrational beast capable of committing the worse atrocities without experiencing any remorse or guilt and to use the masses as weapons to dominate Muslim societies.
Elements of the Taliban leadership are believed to be holed up in safe havens in Pakistan. This problem needs to be resolved with or without help from Pakistan.
INDIAN HINDU ALERT !!!!!
US drone is pak's national bird
India threw them out like a turd
pak is called world's cesspit
even arabs throw at the pakis nothing but spit...
INDIAN HINDU ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!! PLAGIARIST ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!
We are peoples of Pakistan,
We s**k the Americans so Hard,
But get nothing in return except the DRONES F@rt,
So we tend to kiss the American @ss,
Again, we get nothing in return except the American gas,
We are nothing but Bhikaris and are PAKISTANI No Mas.
INDIAN HINDU ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!! PLAGIARIST ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!
poor pakis hav to do whatever their master tells them to do..if US asks them to go after their own then the pakis hav to obey....pakis held upside down by their master US hav no choice....poor beggars ...and to add to their trouble India is all around their cesspit..hhahahahaaa..
INDIAN HINDU ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!! PLAGIARIST ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!
I think we need to address the genocide in Indian Occupied Kashmir before the freedom fighters will back off. There will never pe peace in India if this issue is not addressed. It is pretty common sense and does not require a degree from UPENN to figure this out
u think..??? since when u inbred paki...??? u cant think...which is why americans are hammering u with missiles to decimate u and put u out of ur miserable existance....NO PAKIS IN THE NEIGBORHOOD of rising nations like Indiai soon....
INDIAN HINDU ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!! PLAGIARIST ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!
Strong actions are needed since safe havens in Pakistan persist despite improving ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as better U.S.-Pakistan relations.
relation betwen pak and US is that of slave and master...thats what its been and will be until US puts pakis out of map...now even afghans are spitting on pakis...so pakis end up being slaves of everyone in the region...hahahahaa
Let us move forward together in tackling the problems facing the world today, in particular economics, trade, terrorism and poverty, that are close to the hearts of both peoples. Together we shall prevail, as we have done in the past while overcoming insurmountable odds. After all, the Americans and Pakistanis share common values and history in the struggle for their Independence and their fight for survival.
God Speed. "In God We Trust".
joking paki....????pakis are slaves of americans...they hav nothing in common ....why else would US hit u with missiles for overa decade and yet u pakis beg them for help...hhahahhahaaaa......pak is soon gone from planet
Let us focus on the causes of terrorism and try to fix the issues. They have been hanging out there for over 60 years ...Palestine….Indian Occupied Kashmir where genocide has been ongoing for decades by predominantly hindu Indian army. After all the inspiration of Talibans are also these geo political unresolved issues. Let us focus on the victims of 9/11 and help the families more than we have done. Let us take care of their kids and put them through college. Let us take care of their wives/husbands/parents. Let us take care of over 200,000+ families whose dear ones gave their lives in Pakistan fighting this terror war. Let us focus on the victims in Afghanistan. Let us honor those soldiers from all over the world who sacrificed their lives believing they were fighting for freedom. They are so many.
Sir Ji.....Bhagwan Ki Kussum it is a pleasure to read your comments. Bhagwan has gifted you with much foresight. Namaskar,
hahhahaaaa...spewing ur madrassa knowledge paki...?? who u fooling...pak is epicenter of world terrroism...US knows it fully which is why it has completely cornered u...u are hit with missiles and US encouraged India to encircle ur cesspit...even ur so called buddy china said nothing...poor pakis .....since pak and terrorism go together....u will soon be pushed out...
Pakistan's contention is that Indian Government is financing the terrorists and some segments of Talibans specializing in suicide bombing. These terrorists are in turn massacring the civilians in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the US/NATO forces. US Treasury and CIA alongwith Pakistan Intelligence are following the cash trail left behind by the Indians using cricket gambling as one of the means alongwith the remnant Indian emigres' in East Africa and South America.
Pakistan now needs to protect itself from the economic implosion/bubble burst in India. It is over folks, in India. Unemployment is record high, inflation is out of control, rupee has collapsed, budget deficit has widened,, multinationals such as Delta Airlines, Dell Computers, GE and Microsoft are already shifting their call centers to Canada, FDI has almost halted. Nobody wants to do business there anymore as terrorism is shifting there in months to come and the country/politics are too big/corrupt/decentralized to be conducive to do business. Pakistan needs to close its borders along India as Indians will soon be crossing over for food. You will now see Indian government trying to get friendly, solving the Kashmir issue and the cricket team wanting to play games.
such intense paranoia ..??? hahahhaaa...pathetic....recent UN report suggested pak to be out of planet by 2030 latest...India is fastest growing nation with high world rankings..its the favorite place for foreign investment...ur attempt ot prove otherwise is pathetic and not supported by facts...on the other hand ur cesspit is least regarded for any investment..ur gdp and export is terror....with US leaving soon pak will be looking to India with their begging bowl....which is why all their ministers are already coming to india with begging bowls one by one...India should make sure it does not encourage these pakis to enter India...especially since every nation on this planet avoids pakis..
INDIAN HINDU ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!! PLAGIARIST ALERT !!!!! ACHTUNG !!!
While most countries are languishing in economic malaise and engulfed in bubble bursts, Pakistan is poised for a record growth in the months and years to come as the western retreat from Afghanistan begins.
while all nations are fast moving towards growth and success...pak is the only state in the region which has bveen going backwards since it was thrown by india 65 yrs ago..even bangladesh and afghan hav better growth data than this cesspit....pak stills survives on begging from US ..the same US that hits them with hell fire missiles and redicules them on a daily basis....go figure...!!!!!!!!!!
INDIAN HINDU ALERT !!!!!
Without a doubt Pakistan needs to move away from American sphere of influence. Not many countries/friends/allies have benefited from American friendship. Certainly, not Pakistan. As Yogi Berra said, "When You Reach a Crossroad, Take It " !!! This is your opportunity to walk away from American grip. It will mean a lot of sacrifices short term but will be worth it in the long run. DO IT !!
Pakistan appears to have made a very thoughtful democratic and parliamentarian decision with regards to issues at hand with USA. It was very disingenuous for Panetta to make comments such as he did in India knowing well that Pakistanis don't have much respect for Indians. He probably took a calculated risk and the reply message from Pakistan was pack your negotiating team and get out of Pakistan. For a global power to pick a fight with such a time tested ally such as Pakistan is indicative that American foreign policy has been hijacked. It is Jimmy Carter deja vu all over again.
Haqqani leadership is headquartered in Western Pakistan as well as other insurgent groups and financiers for terrorists. This place needs to be cleaned up soon!
Terrorism has no geographical boundaries. Indian Occupied Kashmir, Assam, South India etc are all regional examples
Safe havens in Pakistan persist despite improving ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as better U.S.-Pakistan relations. Something's gotta be done about it.
The Pakistani Haqqani network is blamed for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan as well as conducting numerous terrorist attacks inside Afghanistan.
It is about time Haqqani network is dealt with a heavy hand rather than being pampered with a loving touch. Terrorists need to be neutralized, not harbored.
Excatly, That is why I am proposing a Marshall Plan for Pakistan.
Giving up terrorism would be a very hard thing to do for Pakistan. Mr. Panetta needs to keep the pressure on. They really need to go after those safe havens.
Indeed, We need to put a Marshall plan in place for pakistan for all the sacrifices it has made to promote world peace since 1980s
Hello Sir! good morning Sir! I am Kareem Chamar (son of a shoe maker) from Pakistan. It really smells bad here in Pakistan. We have open gutters, kids poop on sides of the roads, gentlemen urinate, and ppop behind houses, dogs, goats are allowed to poop on streets, but thanks Allah, we have pigs they eat all poops, but it still smells relay bad here in Pakistan
Does not all shiet from pakistan flow downhill to ganges in India? So that makes India sewage treatment plant for Pakistan !!! Hmmmm
It is good than Pakistan is being pressured to give up terrorism. Only time will tell if they would actually do it.
Only if a Marshall Plan is put in place for Pakistan. NOT FOR NOTHING !!
I wonder if hindu devis PMS?
Kali Maa has PMS. LOL
Ooooo Kali, my favorite Hindu Godless, she eats muslims, feed all Paki muslims to Kali, oh yea
Seems like you are experienced. Perhaps she ate up your mother? Huh?
Here goes....Manmohan SIngh asked me to dig tunnel. Chinese caught me. I p-ssed in my pants. They took my clothes off and asked me to walk to Delhi. I tried to be cute and they slapped and kicked me and sent me back naked. My soldiers ran away scared. On the way I met Taliban Haqqani and he took pity and gave me clothes. My name is General Sharma and I am ashamed to be born an Indian.
Heh General....didn't your d–ck freeze enroute?
Yes, that is why my hindini wife getting banged by my Nepalese gardner and then the cook many times a day.
My cook is from Bangladesh
One sign of a good soldier is he admits to his weaknesses. I want to admit to mine. I was really scared when Mumbai was taken over by invaders.I put my head between my wife's brea-ts (though small) and enjoyed the warmth, felt safe and fell asleep. I woke up after the gunbattle was over.
Shame on you coward. I refuse to stand next to any Indian soldier. You should be ashamed of yourself. Did you su-k on your wife's ni--pples...btw?
Pakistani soldiers can not do that because they are always in same se_x relationships. Even though Mohamed forbids it.
Good one General !!!!! Any more confessions???? LOl
I am speechless general Sharma and ashamed of being a hindu. Did you also pee in your dhoti????
So tell us how and why did the Chinese slap you?
I will Joe, chap. Stay tuned. Just going to check on my wife. I think that hindini is having an affair with my Nepalese gardner.
No Mohammed has agreed to share Aisha with Osama bin Laden. Both are doing her – taking turn. She is enjoying it though.
Yeah. Both Mo and OBL are doing Aisha five times a day. That's the kind of prayer Koran ordered.
Pakistan's father of the nation OBL was found hiding behind his wife. Was that Pakistan's most brave, spiritual leader?
Yes. OBL was indeed the best Pakistani ever. He was not really hiding behind his wife – he typically sat down to take a leak. Pakistan is very proud of him.
Of course. Pakistan is very proud of all its terrorists. You will always find Pakistanis bragging about their terrorists. That is all they have to brag about. Of course they are proud of those Pakistani terrorists sent to Mumbai too. Just like Pakistanis are truly proud of Bin Laden. They worship him more than Allah and Mohammed.
The US was encouraged by Pakistan's agreement to go after the safe havens. And Pakistan was encouraged by the US drones.
Pakistan has the capability of spinning on a dime.
And that dime was donated by the US to Pakistan as a part of the aid package.
No, to produce more nukes for the 3 second stargey to reduce india to dust !!!!! LMFAO.....HOOYAH !!!!!
That dime is in a Swiss bank account now which is held by one of those corrupt generals. Instead, Pakistanis bought cheap stuff from the Chinese for a penny, which was also borrowed from IMF.
Pakistan has tremendous potential and everyone knows it except the Pakistanis. A new layer of leadership has to emerge in all avenues to move this country forward.
Yes, all Pakistanis can be potential terrorists. Everyone knows that.
GOD BLESS PAKISTAN,
Land that we love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From Kashmir to Karachi and onto New Delhi,
And to the oceans, white with foam
GOD BLESS PAKISTAN, Our home sweet home.
pakis are such subhumans that other muslim countries spit on them for bringing bad name to islam.....poor pakis....they get spit on by all not just americans....hahhhaa
PAKISTAN is the @rse of South Asia while Islam represents the worst of what a
medieval cult can offer. Pakistani culture is a conglomeration of bizarre rituals
based on inc*st. Pakistani mullahs are live horrific
characters that incite b@stiality and pedophilic practices and violent and extremist acts on humans such as sacrificial rituals.
LIPSTICK ON A PIG (Afterall we all Pakistanis love pigs so much): The Story of Pakistan
There is only so much one can do to make a pig look pretty
Slapping some lipstick is the epitomy.
PAKISTAN is mired in sewage and poverty.
Terrorism Terrorism, Taliban Taliban
Has done nothing but made the people loathe.
Lipstick on a Pig is the Pakistan way
Either nukes will soon blow it away.
Or an implosion can perhaps ease the sway.
Split Pakistan into three parts, give Balochistan to the Baloch’s the tribal and ungoverned part to Afghanistan and give other half to India. This will make it governable and manageable and this will generate tremendous economic demand for western nations, be democratically more efficient and easy to manage,
My name is ShahNawaz and I am ashamed to be a Pakistani.
pakis being the beggars that they hav been for last 65 yrs when they were thrown out of india, hav to agree to whatever their masters USA tells them to do..now they hav to go after their own kind...poor pakis.....such a pathetic beggar state.!!...
Pakistan needs a Communist Revolution to pull that country out of it's needless civil war and to quit taking orders from Washington D.C.
I totally agree with that, Joseph. The current Pakistani leaders are far too corrupt to do any good!
pak is not a country but a slave of americans...and pak has no leaders..only cowardly beggars....
What makes the biggest difference in any country are its people. Pakistani people bear most of the blame for these problems. People of Pakistan are overwhelmingly Islamists who want to shoot school girls and take their country back to the stone age. Leaders are elected by people. When you have bad people, they will elect bad leaders.
All Pakistan needs is a big nuke kaboom.