“It is difficult to achieve peace in Afghanistan as long as there is safe haven for terrorists in Pakistan,” Panetta told reporters in the Afghan capital city, Kabul, on Thursday, following a meeting with military leaders.
“It is very important for Pakistan to take steps. It is an increasing concern, the issue of safe haven, and we are reaching the limits of our patience,” he added.
The US Defense Secretary alluded to the presence of the Haqqani militant network in Pakistan, which has been blamed for several attacks on Americans in neighboring Afghanistan, as an instance of Pakistan-based insurgents.
The remarks come two days after Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned US Charge d’affaires Richard Hoagland over Washington’s continued assassination drone attacks in the country.
Pakistani-US relations experienced particularly serious strains in 2011 after a CIA contractor killed two Pakistanis and a US team infiltrated the Pakistani territory under the pretext of killing al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
This was topped by US air strikes in November which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at two army outposts on the Afghan border.
The last incident prompted Islamabad to shut down supply routes to US-led foreign military forces in Afghanistan.
On Monday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar reiterated Islamabad’s demand for a US apology before the supply lines could be opened, a demand Washington has so far rejected.
ASH/HJL/IS
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