US wants Pakistan to 'squeeze' Haqqani network | WPN World People News

US will exert more pressure on Pakistan to curb the Al Qaeda-allied Haqqani network, amid a widely held belief that the insurgent group was behind the latest audacious attacks in Kabul over the weekend, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.

"There were indications of Haqqani involvement" in the attacks in the Afghan capital that killed nearly 50 people, Clinton said in Brasilia.

Clinton said that she had pressed Islamabad when she visited the country last October to "squeeze" the Haqqani network that is based in Pakistan but operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

"Haqqani network is a very determined foe will continue to make that point, press it hard," she said.

Clinton said, "(I) expressed my strong conviction" and told Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in a telephone call from Brazil Monday "there has to be concerted effort" in fighting the insurgent group.

She said such efforts must involve the Nato-led force in Afghanistan, the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The remarks from Clinton followed Afghan Interior Minister Bismillah Mohammadi telling journalists in Kabul that one of the militants arrested during the Sunday attack on the Afghan capital and three other cities had told the authorities that Haqqani network was behind the strikes.

US says the insurgent group is "the most resilient enemy network" and is "one of the biggest threats in the current war on terror in Afghanistan".

Source:The Asia News.Net