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"I think it's the safe haven on the Pakistani side of the border, not just for Al-Qaeda but for the Taliban for the Hakani network, for Gulbaddin Hekmatyar and other affiliated groups that are all working together - they're separate groups, but they're all working together, and I think as long as they have a safe haven to operate there, it's going to be a problem for us," Gates told the MSNBC news channel in an interview.
"Afghanistan, after all, 20 years ago I was on the other side of that border as deputy director of CIA fighting the Soviets, and we had the safe haven in Pakistan, and let me tell you, it made a big difference," he said in his interview on Sunday.
Gates, who met with Pakistani Army chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani last week in Washington, said the Pakistan leadership now knows that what is going on in their tribal region is very dangerous for their country.
"I believe, based on my talks with the Pakistanis here in Washington this past week, that they clearly now understand that what's going on up there in that border area is as big a risk to the stability of Pakistan as it is a problem for us in Afghanistan," Gates said.
The defence secretary said Afghanistan is now unlikely to be a safe haven for the terrorists as long as the US and its allied forces are in the country.
"Well, as long as we're in Afghanistan and as long as the Afghan government has the support of dozens and dozens of countries who are providing military support, civilian support, in addition to us, we are providing a level of stability in Afghanistan that at least prevents it from being a safe haven from which plots against the United States and the Europeans and others can be put together so that border area, particularly on the Pakistani side, is the most worrisome," Gates said.
The Obama Administration is currently having a review of its Afghan policies, in which all stake holders including governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, besides its allies in Europe are being consulted, he said, adding delegations of Pakistan and Afghanistan were in the US last week to participate in the discussion.
"We're talking to the Europeans, to our allies, we're bringing in an awful lot of people to get different points of view as we go through this review of what our strategy ought to be," Gates said.
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U S can't do much now. U S is badly bruised and is a sinking Titanic. Nobody want to get into Titanic. U S went after Iraq based on Nuclear rumours. Now Iran is flaunting it's nuclear power and U S can't do a thing. Last super power is crumbling.
Any defence force or intel agency will protect their country and their people from anti-social elements but its pathetic to see that the ISI and the military of Pakistan is giving shelter and protection to the anti-social elements in their own soil.West better be careful before funding them for the fight against terrorist as these agencies who will never hesitate to deceit their own people.
Here is a chance for the Obama administration to kill several birds with one stone - so to speak. The Federal Reserve has been talking of 'Quantitative easing' i.e. printing money (to buy back government bonds thus inject money into the market) to ease the credit crunch. Instead of buying these bonds, the US government could go on a spending spree to fund the long overdue public sector projects e.g. Improved Border Security and Immigration Controls. IN PARTICULAR, IT SHOULD REPLACE THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM WITH ‘ENTRY CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES’. THIS WILL PREVENT PEOPLE OF PAKISTANI ORIGIN WITH BRITISH PASSPORTS TO ‘WALK IN’ TO THE US WITHOUT LET OR HINDRANCE. Other public sector spending could be spent on things like: Preventing Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse, Production of non-fossil fuel energy, Improving Public Health System, Updating and Enhancing Public Transport, Stricter Gun controls, etc.
In spite of the known fact that Pakistan is the safe heaven for all the terrorists groups from Al-Queda,Taliban, etc.US is still providing military arms to Pakistan.Now Obama has warned Pakistan that US will not hesitate to enter the border of Pakistan and Afganistan to trace the terrorists.Already, the Taliban has taken over the Swat district of Pakistan and the next move will be to enter Karachi.The present government has little support from the army and the ISI, which are still controlling the future of the nation.The future of Pakistan is bleak.
The Democrats in USA will surely use Kashmir as a bait for the Muslims. Be prepared to be fired with this bullet. All this postures are just a prelude to this. India must keep quiet and see the actions unfold. Its essential that the turmoil in Western borders of Pakistan continues for India's western border to be peaceful.
THE PHONE has been riniging for the last 8 years!!! USA have ALWAYS had their own agenda and still do. Coming to realise a simple hard truth is mind boggling!!!Quite a PATHETIC admission by the USA
Common man like us knows, that PAKISTAN's main source of export earnings are TERRORISM, DRUG TRAFFICKING, UNDERWORLD,CHARITY FUND diversions, FAKE CURRENCY PRINTING, NUCLEAR WEAPON TRAFFICKING with ISI
Shame to USAmerican CIA,FBI and other intelligence services and of course its foreign policy makers who failed to know and recognize this fact after two and a half decades.Bloggers and commentators in almost every news bulletin had been writing since long and GOI had been telling the same not to the USA but whole world community but they gave only deaf ear.They thought it to be India's problem and had malevolent plans to make big dough out of weapons' deals of which India will be in need.Now that they have fears of own security and safety of own people at home and around the world they are coming out with recognisations of Pakistani malicious policy of spreading Terrorism around the world-The world of Kafirs.Pakistan is not only safe Haven but Terror producing centre and a hive of terrorists.This was and this is Pakistani state policy through which it milks out maximum aid/help from USA and many Islamic nations and org.US must act harsh without words or compromise.
Pak 'safe haven' for all terrorist networks: Gates. Agreed MrGates. But why on earth, are you still giving military aid to Pakistan is the trillion dollar question the Indians would like to ask!
US and UK, first stop giving money to Pakistan. Let Pakistant focus on agriculture, Garments, other industries. They have brains, let them use it for proper cause.
Drone Technology to Pakistan will make it appear as Nuclear armed Drones in the hands of North Korea, a desire and indent of china. How do you like it?
Bullshit! Even kid knows this much! Yet the US provides training to Paki ISI !!
This is all because of misusing of US aid money, shame on US you guys are still providng more aid to pak.
Pak 'safe haven' for all terrorist networks: Gates - and you know it pretty well that the ISI and Pak army is double crossing the whole world all the time - particularly, US and Britain. Yet Obama wants to provide Billions and so does Mr. Brown? How can a country that provides a sanctuary to these people be an ally on the war on terror? Stupid west!
THANKS MR GATES. THIS WHAT INDIANS HAVE BEEN TELLING FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS OR MORE. AT LEAST ACT NOW. TAKE THEIR NUKE AWAY. DON'T GIVE THEM AID FOR ANTI-TERROR ACTIVITIES. THEY CREATE MORE TERROR NETWORKS TO GET MORE AID FROMTHE US. GOT IT.
India should award Doctorate to this Guy.
As you sow so will you reap.Pakistan is facing the boomrang which it once used against its neighbour during cold war era. Pakistan's policy pertaining to its relations with SAARC nations
If US feels Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorist networks, why is it arming Pakistan to the teeth ? It is obvious that these arms are ending up in the hands of terrorists with the overt or covert help from the establishment in Pakistan. Perhaps the US calculation is: one bomb against India is one bomb less against the US. India is acting as a buffer between Pakistan and US.
It's the ISI, stupid! That's what India has been telling the whole world for last 3 decades and the whole world telling US for last 10 years! I feel it's not the Pak regime in the state of denial, it's the US govt.
The report clearly shows the US govt is aware of the menance caused by Pakistan. Now is the time for India to build good , strong relationship with US and press them for more action.