Docs May Dent U.S.-Pakistani Relations
One of the revelations in the release of the 90,000 documents by WikiLeaks is that Pakistan's intelligence agency is aiding the Afghan insurgency, even planning attacks on American troops.
This is a potential setback for U.S.-Pakistani relations, says CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan.
The White House's relationship with Pakistan is very sensitive and complicated one. On the one hand, Pakistan is important ally. On the other hand, the country has been known to be harboring al Qaeda and the Taliban from the beginning of this war.
More on the WikiLeaks release:
Hotsheet: White House Tries to Kill the Messenger
Washington Unplugged: Wikileaks Paint Grim Afghan Picture
WikiLeaks Founder: Many More Documents to Come
WikiLeaks: Evidence of War Crimes in Afghan Docs
Afghan Gov't "Shocked" by Leak of War Documents
Pakistani Officials: WikiLeaks Claims "Outrageous"
But the Obama administration has been quick to point to the fact that Pakistan has been taking more action than in the past.
While these documents only go up to December of last year, it is clear that Al Qaeda and the Taliban still enjoy safe haven inside Pakistan and fundamentally that hasn't changed.
One other revelation is that surface-to- air shoulder-fired missiles are being used by the Taliban against allied aircraft.
Why would the U.S. military keep this a secret? Because it's potentially a game-changer in the Afghan war. This is predominantly an air war and helicopters are especially vulnerable. It doesn't serve U.S. Tactical operational or even strategic interests in the war.
Also mentioned in these documents is the number of Afghan civilians who have been killed.
The U.S. Has taken a lot of criticism because of this. However, what's interesting to note that is according to the documents, 195 afghan civilians have been killed. But also according to the documents 2,000 afghan civilians have been killed by the Taliban which is more than 10 times the number said to be killed by U.S. and NATO forces.
The coverage would indicate that it's more of an issue for the U.S. To kill Afghan civilians than it is for the taliban to do so so.
