Pakistan resists US pressure on Haqqani terrorist network

Sep 29, 2011, 12:30 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday rejected allegations by the United States that Islamabad was supporting the Haqqani terrorist network.

'We reject all the allegations by (the) US and emphasize to resolve all issues in a responsible and positive manner through talks,' he told political leaders at a conference called to discuss deteriorating relations with the US.

'Pakistan cannot be put under more pressure to do more and our national interests will be safeguarded at every cost,' Gilani said, referring to the repeated US demand that Islamabad should 'do more' in the war against terrorism.

The conference came as the US government renewed calls Wednesday for Pakistan to act against the radical Haqqani network.

'The continuing safe havens that the Haqqani network enjoys in Pakistan and the links between the Pakistani military and the Haqqani network are troubling, and we want action taken against them,' White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Akram Shahidi, a spokesman for Gilani, said more than 65 leaders from all political parties were invited to the conference for a closed-door session to discuss the US allegations.

The main objective was to address how to safeguard national security in the wake of threatening statements from the US, a senior official said.

The participants included Nawaz Sharif, the two-time former premier and chief of the main opposition party - Pakistan Muslim League-N, long-term critic of the US and former cricketing hero Imran Khan, leaders of all the religious and regional parties, and senior military and intelligence officials.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and the chief of spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, briefed the participants about the state of relations with the US.

Last week the top-ranking US military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Haqqani network 'acts as a veritable arm of' the ISI.

US media have reported that the Haqqani network could soon be designated a terrorist organization by the US government.

The mistrust between the United States and Pakistan has been growing since US special forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May.

Since then, pressure has been mounting on Pakistan's political and military leaders to review the country's anti-terrorism cooperation with Washington.

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