(RTTNews) - With the "destructive role" of the Pakistan Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency standing exposed in the wake of WikiLeaks revelations of classified intelligence documents, a prominent American law-maker said that Islamabad's obsession with New Delhi was leading it to "dig its own grave."
The ISI's attempt to distinguish good from bad militants will spin out of control; and, with its India-phobia, "Pakistan is digging its own grave," Congressman Ed Royce, told news agency Press Trust of India (PTI).
The Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian- Americans was reacting to the WikiLeaks revelation, which showed that the ISI continued to help and assist al-Qaeda and the Taliban all along.
"I've been speaking about the destructive role of Pakistan's ISI for many, many years. I've read this headline before," Royce added, responding to the posting of more than 92,000 classified documents on the war in Afghanistan.
Several Congressmen condemned the publication of the highly-classified documents, but expressed concern over the continued covert links between the ISI and the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Senator Russ Feingold said the documents, in particular, highlighted a fundamental strategic problem--elements of the Pakistani security services being complicit with the insurgency.
"That, combined with competing agendas within the Afghan security forces, makes it clear that there is no military solution in Afghanistan," he added.
Incidentally, during an open Senate Intelligence Committee hearing earlier this year, Feingold asked the then Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair about Pakistan's "continued support to militant proxies and about the assistance provided by some of those groups to al-Qaeda".
Echoing Feingold views, Senator Carl Levin said some of the leaked documents reinforced his long-standing concern about the supporting role of some Pakistani officials in the Afghan insurgency.
During his recent visit to Islamabad with Senator Jack Reed, said Levin, they had strongly urged Pakistan officials to take forceful action against militant networks using Pakistan as a base to attack Afghan and American troops.
Senator Ike Skelton, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the leaked documents, though troubling, reinforced what he was asserting for years: "the war in Afghanistan was not going well, and we needed a real strategy for success."
However, he said the leaked reports---covering the period from 2004 to 2009--pre-dated the Obama administration's new strategy in Afghanistan and should not be used as a "measure of success or a determining factor in our continued mission there."
Calling the release of the secret documents as "deeply troubling and a serious breach of national security," Senator John McCain, the unsuccessful Republican presidential candidate of 2008, said those responsible for the leak should be punished.
"The materials reflect the reality, recognized by everyone, that the insurgency was gaining momentum during these years while our coalition was losing ground," Senator Joe Lieberman (Ind.-Connecticut) said.
He called for full support and time to be given to General David Petraeus and American troops on the ground to succeed in Afghanistan.
Acknowledging the the path ahead was difficult, Lieberman warned that the "consequences for our national security will be catastrophic if we abandon this effort and allow the Taliban and its allies to regain a safe haven in Afghanistan. That is the path back to 9/11."
Expressing shock that an American, that too someone in the Pentagon, could betray his country and possibly put soldiers at risk by leaking information on the ongoing war in Afghanistan, Senator Kit Bond, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the "damage to U.S. national security caused by leaks like this won't stop until we see more perpetrators in orange jump suits."
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com
India-Obsessed Pakistan Digging Its Own Grave: U.S. Congresman
its not a Indian Source
The ISI's attempt to distinguish good from bad militants will spin out of control; and, with its India-phobia, "Pakistan is digging its own grave," Congressman Ed Royce, told news agency Press Trust of India (PTI).
The Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian- Americans was reacting to the WikiLeaks revelation, which showed that the ISI continued to help and assist al-Qaeda and the Taliban all along.
"I've been speaking about the destructive role of Pakistan's ISI for many, many years. I've read this headline before," Royce added, responding to the posting of more than 92,000 classified documents on the war in Afghanistan.
Several Congressmen condemned the publication of the highly-classified documents, but expressed concern over the continued covert links between the ISI and the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Senator Russ Feingold said the documents, in particular, highlighted a fundamental strategic problem--elements of the Pakistani security services being complicit with the insurgency.
"That, combined with competing agendas within the Afghan security forces, makes it clear that there is no military solution in Afghanistan," he added.
Incidentally, during an open Senate Intelligence Committee hearing earlier this year, Feingold asked the then Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair about Pakistan's "continued support to militant proxies and about the assistance provided by some of those groups to al-Qaeda".
Echoing Feingold views, Senator Carl Levin said some of the leaked documents reinforced his long-standing concern about the supporting role of some Pakistani officials in the Afghan insurgency.
During his recent visit to Islamabad with Senator Jack Reed, said Levin, they had strongly urged Pakistan officials to take forceful action against militant networks using Pakistan as a base to attack Afghan and American troops.
Senator Ike Skelton, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the leaked documents, though troubling, reinforced what he was asserting for years: "the war in Afghanistan was not going well, and we needed a real strategy for success."
However, he said the leaked reports---covering the period from 2004 to 2009--pre-dated the Obama administration's new strategy in Afghanistan and should not be used as a "measure of success or a determining factor in our continued mission there."
Calling the release of the secret documents as "deeply troubling and a serious breach of national security," Senator John McCain, the unsuccessful Republican presidential candidate of 2008, said those responsible for the leak should be punished.
"The materials reflect the reality, recognized by everyone, that the insurgency was gaining momentum during these years while our coalition was losing ground," Senator Joe Lieberman (Ind.-Connecticut) said.
He called for full support and time to be given to General David Petraeus and American troops on the ground to succeed in Afghanistan.
Acknowledging the the path ahead was difficult, Lieberman warned that the "consequences for our national security will be catastrophic if we abandon this effort and allow the Taliban and its allies to regain a safe haven in Afghanistan. That is the path back to 9/11."
Expressing shock that an American, that too someone in the Pentagon, could betray his country and possibly put soldiers at risk by leaking information on the ongoing war in Afghanistan, Senator Kit Bond, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the "damage to U.S. national security caused by leaks like this won't stop until we see more perpetrators in orange jump suits."
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com
India-Obsessed Pakistan Digging Its Own Grave: U.S. Congresman
its not a Indian Source