Haqqani network was once CIA's 'blue-eyed boy': FM Hina

NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that the Haqqani group that the US held responsible for last week's attack on the American embassy in Kabul had been the CIA's 'blue-eyed boy' for many years.

Responding to questions during an interview with Al Jazeera television, Khar, who is in New York leading Pakistan's delegation to the UN General Assembly, rejected US accusations against the ISI, saying that it had no links to the Haqqani network.

"If we talk about links, I am sure the CIA also has links with many terrorist organisations around the world, by which we mean intelligence links," she said. "And this particular network, which (the United States) continues to talk about, is a network which was the blue-eyed boy of the CIA itself for many years."

When asked about Admiral Mike Mullen's statement that the Haqqani group "acts as a veritable arm" of the ISI, the foreign minister said, "It is something that goes very, very unappreciated on our side. This is unsubstantiated. No evidence has been shared with us." She added that partners and allies did not talk to each other through public statements.

She said that Pakistan had taken up the matter with the US, but that the spate of hostile statements coming from senior US officials meant that Washington had taken a policy decision. She said that if that was the case then "we have the right to make our own decision".

Khar went on to say that blame games would not help and that Pakistan wanted to be a US ally. "I just hope that we'll be given a chance to cooperate with each other and that the doors will remain open - because statements like this are pretty much close to shutting those doors," she added.

Replying to a question, the foreign minister said that the drone attacks not only violated Pakistan's sovereignty, they were also counterproductive, and greatly angered the people of Pakistan. "I think we must not be tested more than we have the ability to bear," she added.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, covering a number of subjects on the 193-member body's agenda. She is expected to focus on Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism.

Her maiden address at the world stage is taking place at a time when tensions are running high between the US and Pakistan.

Apart from terrorism, Hina Rabbani Khar will reaffirm Pakistan's principled stand on Kashmir and reiterate it's support for a dialogue with India on all outstanding issues between the two countries. She will also deal with the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan's efforts to promote peace and stability in the neighbouring country.

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