Pakistan Denies It Harbors Qaeda Fighters

Takes Offense At U.S. Accusations, Says U.S. Should Remember Its Successes

(CBS/AP)  Rejecting the U.S. intelligence chief's accusations that Pakistan is harboring al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, Islamabad said Friday it remains committed to fighting international terrorism and extremism.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte's claim that Pakistan represents a major source of Islamic extremism and a refuge for top terror leaders is "incorrect."

"In breaking the back of al Qaeda, Pakistan has done more than any other country in the world," the statement said.

Later, Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said in statement released after a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher in Islamabad on Friday that his country maintains "unwavering commitment to fight extremism and terrorism."

Pakistan and the U.S. appear to be heading towards another bitter disagreement over the extent to which al Qaeda has positioned itself in the south Asian country, making it the hub of its activities, reports CBS News correspondent Farhan Bokhari.

Negroponte said in testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday that "eliminating the safe haven that the Taliban and other extremists have found in Pakistan's tribal areas is not sufficient to end the insurgency in Afghanistan, but it is necessary."

Negroponte's statement contended that al Qaeda's main network operated out of Pakistan.

NATO and the Afghan government say Taliban and al Qaeda guerrillas are launching attacks on U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan. Violence rose sharply in Afghanistan in 2006, with militants killing about 4,000 people in what was the deadliest year since the U.S.-led coalition swept the Taliban from power in 2001.

U.S. officials have said they believe al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and other top terror commanders are taking refuge in the region, likely on the Pakistani side of the border. Pakistan has repeatedly rejected such claims.

"As part of international coalition against terrorism, our efforts are also helping the international community to counter this grave danger," the Pakistani statement said. "When Mr. Negroponte mentions the capture and killing of hundreds of al Qaeda members since 9/11, he should acknowledge the efforts of the country that made this possible."

Pakistan became a U.S. ally in the war against terrorism after it severed support for the Taliban militia in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

"Pakistan remains committed to fighting international terrorism and extremism. In this endeavor, the focus must always remain on cooperation instead of questionable criticism," said said Tasnim Aslam, Pakistan's foreign ministry spokeswoman in the statement.

The latest exchange between the two countries appeared to underline an underlying discomfort between Pakistan and the U.S., says Bokhari.

Diplomats based in Islamabad said Negroponte's remarks seemed to underline U.S. frustration over Pakistan in spite of Washington's recognition of the support it has received from Pakistan. Last year, a growing number of suicide attacks in Afghanistan prompted claims from western officials, including U.S. officials, that Pakistan had failed to curb the flow of "Taliban" suspects who allegedly routinely cross over the border with Afghanistan.

"Many of these 'Taliban' suspects are involved in attacks on western troops. This must cause a lot of frustration in Washington," said one Arab diplomat in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, who asked not to be named.

Pakistani officials said Negroponte's remarks appeared to overlook the failure by US and Afghan security troops in curbing militancy in Afghanistan.

"It's the failure of the U.S. in tackling militant movements which continues to keep groups like al Qaeda alive," said a Pakistani government official who asked not to be named. "Rather than pointing fingers at Pakistan, the Americans should ask themselves, why is it that they have not been able to curb this problem, five years after the war on terror was launched?"

Boucher praised Pakistan's commitment against terrorism.

"The U.S. is clearly following a two-track policy with Pakistan," the Arab diplomat told Bokhari. "It knows there is a big problem, but it doesn't want to break off the relationship with Pakistan so it occasionally also commends Pakistan."

[dargay]

randolphjo:

Pakistan is the only country which as assisted the US in your failing "War on terror". Your attacks on that country despite its assistance is one more reason why your war is not working.

[feelfree1]

I don't know if Pakistan "Harbors Qaeda Fighters", but I do know that Pakistan is led by a military dictator, and that they have nuclear weapons...in other words, they are our 'ally' in the 'war of terror'.

[grazinggoat]

olebd,

Yep, saw him recently on David Ben Gurion alley Downton TelAviv, Israel. He had a wife and eleven kids around the stroll...

[olebd]

Ain't this where Osama Bin Hidin'?

[grazinggoat]

heyitsme,
it's funny to see ridiculous people like you on this blog. You want to change the whole world to fit your views. You just transpose the image of what you have in your head like a machine that projects a picture from one side over some other place on the planet and wish the picture be sculpted in, regardless of the specificity of the people living there for decades not to say for Centuries...

This is a silly and selfish view of the world. Dangerous. You're trying to do what Hitler tried do: Population Eugenism... Remember what: Purifying the caucasian race from semitic background genes...

Get a bit educated about the dynamics of populations in that corner of the world.
Pakistan has put a lot of effort in order to fight terrorism and lost a lot of soldiers in fights with the tribes in Waziristan. Just read what ObservantX just conrtibuted.

Nonetheless Negroponte is a big sh*t-stirrer and he's following an US-estranged agenda remote-controlled from Jerusalem, the least we can say. The whole fight is not really to secure America from terrorist attacks (there are none), Jerusalem doesn't care. It's all matter of securing the area of Middle-east where Israel has plans for expansion, since it just can't survive, confined into its actual borders.

[Randolphjo]

After the September 11 attacks, the only announcement that would have stunned me more is that our chief ally in the war on terror in the Middle East was going to be Iraq instead of Pakistan.

Pakistan was very smart in aligning themselves with the US in the WOT (War on Terror) as it has allowed them to safely play both sides of the street without fear of coming under attack by their chief ally, the USA.

Were Pakistan not officially the chief ally of the US in the WOT, the US would have already crossed into Pakistan and eradicated the terrorist leaders and terrorists fighters %u2013 where BOTH Pakistan AND the USA acknowledge that that is where they are located. You also would have a hard time of convincing me that Pakistan hasn't been supplying intelligence to the terrorists.

Were it not for Pakistan aligning themselves with the USA in the WOT, the number of terrorists operating at will throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria and other hot bed countries for terrorists would be substantially lower. Without the support and safe haven provided by Pakistan, these terrorists wouldn't have a safe and secure place to live, hide, train and re-supply in the Middle-East.

Pakistan knows that all they have to do is to beat that well-worn drum of how they have helped us kill so many terrorists with their help. Truth be told, those terrorists were probably killed because Pakistan intelligence was unable to get word quickly enough to the terrorists that attacks were imminent.

[bluestardad]

We believe them just like we never run ops on their side of the border.

[heyitsme_76]

Yeah, right..!!! There are NO Al-Qaeda fighters hiding in Pakistan.. Just like saying there are illegal immigrants in the US. Consider this.. The US govt. has spent $400 billion of our tax payer dollars fighting in Iraq.. If they had spent even 1 billion of that money on cleaning up the training camps in Pakistan, the US would be a lot safer today..

[grazinggoat]

Negroponte is a special character.

He stirrs the sh*t all around the world. What does he expect from Pakistan? To kill all the tribes in west Pakistan to bring in the OssamaBenLaden (OBL)'s head on a silver paltter and give it to Olmert?

What if Ossama is already dead. He's been reported so many times being so ill that he may as well be dead by now. No one knows the whereabout of this bearded guy.

If Negroponte knew about that guy's whereabout, well let him go and hunt him if he can. Let the Israelis do it. They are so good at that.

[dargay]

Americans have little to show after 5 years of war and instead of introspection, they are going on a renewed offensive. What fools.

[observantx]

netadmin1:

There was a special on I think it was CBS or maybe PBS about this area. I'm sorry, I can't remember the name of the program, but it was VERY eyopening. This area is largely trackless mountain and valleys. Almost no roads, electricity, etc. Google Warziristan for maps, info, etc. The tribes are very hard core fundamentalist Muslims. The Taliban & Osama would feel right at home and undoubtedly have found safe refuge there because of the religious climate and rules of hospitality there.

The Pakistan military & governemnt has come to agreements with these tribes to basically leave them alone. Pakistan knows they can't really tame these tribes and they don't want them getting out of hand and causing grief in Pakistan like they are in Afghanistan.

Granted, the White House has bungled the campaign here and Pakistan wants to pretend that this area does not exist. Therefore, the infection here grows.

[netadmin1-2009]

That is some very interesting information observantx - I can't believe we haven't gone after them there.

[observantx]

The areas being referred to when they are talking about %u201Ctribal areas%u201D are known as Waziristan.

Waziristan is divided into two "agencies", North Waziristan and South Waziristan, with estimated populations (as of 1998) of 361,246 and 429,841 respectively. The two parts have quite distinct characteristics, though both tribes are subgroups of the Waziris and speak a common Waziri language. They have a formidable reputation as warriors and are known for their frequent blood feuds. Traditionally, feuding local Waziri religious leaders have enlisted outsiders in the Pakistani government, and U.S. forces hunting al-Qaeda fugitives, in attempts at score-settling. The tribes are divided into sub-tribes governed by male village elders who meet in a tribal jirga. Socially and religiously Waziristan is an extremely conservative area. Women are carefully guarded, and every household must be headed by a male figure.

These areas are for all intents and purposes outside the control of Pakistan. There is very little Pakistan can or dare do to enforce any rule of law. This is where Osama and his buddies and the Taliban are making themselves all warm and comfy. This is where the war on terror should be fought. But no, we are neck deep in the sand in Iraq.

Heck of a job, George! Why don%u2019t you just surge yourself over to Sadr City and show us how it%u2019s done.