U.S. lashes out at Pak for 'harbouring' Haqqani network terrorists in Afghanistan

The United States has asserted that that the nation faces continued challenges to its interests in Afghanistan, while reiterating frustration over Pakistan's role in harboring terrorists from the Haqqani network aiding the Taliban in its fight to regain control of Afghanistan.

During a hearing on U.S. policy in Afghanistan, U.S. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stressed on the ongoing security and development challenges facing the country as the U.S. and other international partners prepare for an Afghanistan aid conference in Brussels next month, a statement said.

Corker further expressed continued support for postponing a faster drawdown of the U.S. security presence this year and additional counterterrorism assistance for Afghan forces amid increasing violence by extremists groups.

"I was really glad to see President Obama commit to 8,400 troops going forward. I would've liked for [that decision] to have occurred earlier, but it seems like we've been able to continue to have the support of our allies in the region.I appreciate, certainly, the additional authorities that have been given to our military there to counter Al-Qaeda and to work more closely with the Afghan troops themselves," he said.

Hitting out at Pakistan for playing an active role in harboring terrorists from the Haqqani network, one of the most violent groups aiding the Taliban in its fight to regain control of Afghanistan, Corker asserted that Islamabad continues to be a tremendously duplicitous partner in this.

"Certainly they are working against our interests [in Afghanistan] through helping support.the Haqqani network. They are the greatest threat to American soldiers there and certainly the greatest threat to the Afghan military and civilians," he said.