Pakistan harbouring terrorists in Afghanistan: US intel officials | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Pakistan harbouring terrorists in Afghanistan: US intel officials

Washington | ByPress Trust of India
May 24, 2017 08:51 AM IST

Intelligence officials say Pakistan needs to be told that Afghanistan’s security and stability is in the interest of all of the parties in the region and does not pose a risk to Pakistan.

Pakistan is “harbouring terrorists” and using them as “reserve” in Afghanistan, a top US intelligence official has told lawmakers.

Trucks and other vehicles travel in the mountainous area near Torkham, close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.(AFP File Photo)
Trucks and other vehicles travel in the mountainous area near Torkham, close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.(AFP File Photo)

“Pakistan views Afghanistan or desires for Afghanistan some of the same things we want: a safe, secure, stable Afghanistan. One addition -- one that does not have heavy Indian influence in Afghanistan,” Lt Gen Vincent Stewart, director, Defense Intelligence Agency told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing on worldwide threats.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“They view all of the challenges through the lens of an Indian threat to the state of Pakistan,” Stewart said.

“So they (Pakistan) hold in reserve terrorist organisation -- we define them as terrorist organisations, they hold them in reserve so that -- if Afghanistan leans towards India, they will no longer be supportive of an idea of a stable and secure Afghanistan that could undermine Pakistan interest,” Stewart said.

He said Pakistan needs to be told very clearly that Afghanistan’s security and stability is in the interest of all of the parties in the region and does not pose a risk to Pakistan.

“We’ve got to convince Pakistan that if they’re harbouring any of the Haqqani network members that it is not in their interest to continue to host of Haqqani network, that we ought to be working together to go after those 20 terrorist organisations that undermine not just Afghanistan, not just Pakistan, but all of the region,” he said.

“And so we’ve to make sure we’re pushing them to do more against the Haqqani network. Then (they should) separate the Taliban from the Pashtun, which want a Pashtun dominated Afghanistan,” he said.

“So we’ve got to get the conversation going again with Pakistan about their role in not harbouring any of these terrorists, helping to stabilise Afghanistan,” he added.

Hoping that US may have some progress in this, Stewart said Pakistan also have some influence in bringing the Taliban to the peace table.

“So, we’ve got to get them to think about reconciliation, that the status quo is not in their best interest,” he said.

Dan Coats, director of National Intelligence said there is need to evaluate how to address the situation of Pakistan harbouring terrorist.

“I think certainly an evaluation of how we work with Pakistan to address the situation of the harbouring of terrorist groups would be essential to a strategy that affects Afghanistan, going forward in Afghanistan,” he said in response to a question.

“Because that is potentially a very disrupting situation, putting our own troops at risk and undermining the strategy of dealing with the Taliban and local groups that are trying to undermine the government,” Coats said.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On