Islamabad, Sept 15: Pakistan on Thursday hit back at U.S. criticism of Islamabad's failure to pursue the Haqqani militant network blamed for this week's attack on U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other U.S. officials expressed frustration with Pakistan over its reluctance to target the group, which maintains safe havens in Pakistan.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said on Thursday that Panetta and others were “out of line with the cooperation that exists between the two countries in the war against terrorism.”
Islamabad has resisted attacking the Haqqanis because they do not pose a direct threat to Pakistan.
The Pakistani army also believes it will be able to use the group to secure its interests in Afghanistan once Americans leave. AP
