"We need Pakistan to take decisive action against the Haqqani Network (HQN). The Pakistanis are uniquely positioned to counter the HQN, which remains the greatest threat to our forces and to stability in Afghanistan long-term," Commander of US Central Command General Lloyd J Austin told members of the Senate Armed Service Committee at a Congressional hearing.
The US is encouraged by some signs from Kabul and Islamabad that point towards a renewed effort at improving Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and Pakistani support for the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, Austin said yesterday.
Responding to a series of questions on the continuing threat the Haqqani network poses to US forces and to the stability of Afghanistan, General Joseph L Votel, nominee of the Commander of US Central Command, told the committee that "Pakistan has a way of communicating to the Haqqani, and a way of highlighting to them the disruptive role they are playing in Afghanistan".
"If that does not work they must conduct security operations to contain them and keep them from coming across the border and having an impact in Afghanistan," he said.
He however, defended the US' decision to continue assistance to Pakistan as "risks of ineffective and unclear signals and conditioning may risk us losing our access and frank dialogue to Pakistan and may reduce Pakistan's willingness to continue its counter-terrorism and counter- insurgency operations".
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