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Monday, September 26, 2011
CIA, not Pakistan, created Haqqani network: Malik* Interior minister stresses need for stronger immigration system at Pak-Afghan border
ISLAMABAD: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) created the Haqqani network and trained its members, not Pakistan, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Sunday.
Talking to journalists at a ceremony held to laud the Islamabad police over the recovery of a huge cache of weapons, the interior minister said that the Haqqani network was present in Afghanistan and those claiming otherwise should give evidence of its presence in Pakistan.
“We will fight the terrorists as our forces are capable of handling them and countering any challenge,” Malik said, adding that it was evident from combating terrorists in Swat and other troubled areas that the law enforcement agencies were making sincere efforts to root out the menace of terrorism.
He said that Pakistan never blamed the CIA or Afghanistan directly over various attacks in the Mohmand Agency or other areas and even the Afghan interior minister was contacted for resolving the issue. The interior minister said that the nation had confidence in the capabilities of the army and the government.
“The nefarious designs of all external elements will be foiled,” he added. Malik stressed for a strong immigration system at the Pak-Afghan border and urged the international community not to forget the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. “Pakistan has so far suffered a loss of $68 billion in fighting terrorism,” the interior minister said.
He said that Pakistan was promised support for capacity building but hardly any support was extended in this regard. Malik appreciated President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for providing Rs 5 billion to enhance the efficiency of the law enforcement agencies in Sindh.
To a question about the acquittal of Raymond Davis, the minister said that the Interior Ministry had no role in it and the jail where he was detained, was in Punjab. He added that certain legal procedures had been used.
To a question about the visit of a Chinese delegation, Malik said that several areas, including cooperation in the fight against terrorism, capacity building, drug smuggling and other issues would be discussed with the Chinese deputy prime minister and other officials.
The interior minister said that the ongoing operation in Karachi was successful, which was a result of coordination amongst the Rangers, police and the Frontier Constabulary. He said the government was determined to eliminate terrorism and the future of Pakistan was safe due to the unity of the whole nation against this menace. “Any aggression from outside or mischievous activity from the inside will not be tolerated. The sovereignty of Pakistan will never be compromised and everyone will stand with the army and the law enforcement agencies to counter any challenge,” he added.
To another question, he said that a plan to declare the Motorway a federal territory was being considered, so that any suspected vehicle could be stopped for inspection.
The minister thanked the youth of Islamabad as well as those transporters whose cooperation with the Islamabad Police had led to several arrests.
He told journalists that Islamabad Police had foiled a bid to smuggle a huge cache of arms, including six mini machine guns, 14 Kalashnikovs, four 12 bore pump actions, one 12 bore double barrel, one sniper rifle and over 30,000 rounds from a vehicle near the Motorway Interchange. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk