US: Pakistan Fails to Make a Sustained Effort to Root Out Haqqani Terror Network

Pakistan has provided safe havens on its territory for terrorists leaders from the Haqqani group and the Taliban, according to the US Department of Defense.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Pakistan has provided safe havens on its territory for terrorists leaders from the Haqqani group and the Taliban, the US Department of Defense said in its Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan report released on Friday.

"Haqqani and Taliban senior leadership retained safe havens inside Pakistani territory and sustained Pakistani efforts to disrupt active Haqqani Network threats were not observed," the report stated.

The Haqqani Network is closely intertwined with the Afghan Taliban and the network’s leader, Siraj Haqqani, is a senior leader within the Afghan Taliban command structure, overseeing all military operations in Afghanistan.

The report noted that the United States continues to be clear with Pakistan about steps it should take "to improve the security environment and deny safe havens to terrorist and extremist groups."

In August, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter decided to withhold $300 million in military aid from Pakistan because Islamabad failed to sufficiently pursue the fight against the Haqqani Network and the Taliban.

The Defense Department report covers activities from the period June 1, 2015 to November 30, 2016.