Washington: Pakistan continues to support and maintain ties with terror groups having links to the Afghan Taliban, including the Haqqani network, despite taking action against militants in the country, a top US official has said.
Pakistan is reluctant to confront terror groups that do not threaten it directly and is yet to sever its links with militant proxies, such as Haqqani Taliban, Gul Bahadur group,
and Commander Nazir group, US` top intelligence official Dennis C Blair told US lawmakers.
Pakistan`s conviction that "militant groups are an important part of its strategic arsenal to counter India`s military and economic advantages will continue to limit its incentive to pursue an across-the-board effort against extremism," said the Director of the National Intelligence.
In his Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community submitted to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Blair said Pakistan`s efforts against insurgents
and terrorists has been mixed.
"Islamabad has demonstrated determination and persistence in combating militants it perceives dangerous to Pakistan`s interests, particularly those involved in attacks in settled areas, including Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and al-Qaida and other associated operatives," Blair said in his testimony.
"However, it still judges it does not need to confront groups that do not threaten it directly and maintains historical support to the Taliban," he said.
PTI
