Well, evidently Pakistan does not.
Rumors of Pakistani involvement in terrorist activities have always been widespread, but this week’s activity really brings it to the forefront.
Do not use the lack of American deaths as a measure of seriousness, 16 people died that day and two days before the attack on the U.S. Embassy, a large truck bomb went off at an American combat outpost, wounding 77 U.S. soldiers. That truck bomb originated in Pakistan.
The insurgents who attacked the U.S. Embassy in Kabul last week were killed but their cell phones left a trail.
The phones had been used to call Pakistani intelligence operatives before and during the assault. This evidence lies behind the charge made by Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the Haqqani network is a “veritable arm” of Pakistani intelligence, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.
The attack on the U.S. Embassy and NATO’s Afghan headquarters resulted in a 22-hour firefight – with American troops pinned down on roof tops.
What makes this even more remarkable is the defense (read offense) that Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar used today.
“We are part of the solution,” Khar told CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley. “We are not part of the problem. And if you continue to drive us in the other direction, unfortunately you will not only alienate the government of Pakistan, which is reaching out to you, which has been a worthy ally. I’m more concerned you will [alienate] the 180 million Pakistanis that your government always talks about reaching out to.”
Someone ought to explain to Ms. Khar what kind of place Pakistan will be without American support.
At a cost to the American taxpayer of over $2 billion per year in aid to Pakistan, are these really the kind of “friends” we need?
