Holbrooke confirms ISI-militant links

Washington, Feb.25 (ANI): The United States has made it clear that there exists a relationship between the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and different militant outfits.

The special US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, has said this relationship is a matter of concern, and Washington would certainly want to discuss the issue with Islamabad.

He said that the US Intelligence chief may also quiz the ISI chief about this nefarious connection.

"The degree of that continuing relationship is one of the things that need to be discussed openly and candidly between two friends, America and Pakistan," The Dawn quoted Holbrooke, as saying.

Commenting on the heightened tension between India and Pakistan, Holbrooke said the Mumbai terror attacks were targeted to ignite a military confrontation between both countries.

"But luckily for the world, the Indians didn't fall into the trap. They resisted," he said.

Holbrooke noted that Pakistan's internal trouble was of direct concern to India also.

In an interview given to a private television channel, Holbrooke, while referring to the US assistance to Pakistan, said Islamabad is not sincere in its effort to disentangle militant training camps operating on its soil.

"The US gives a lot of assistance to Pakistan. And most people, me included, feel that Pakistan does not do enough to stop the people who from bases in Pakistan cross into Afghanistan and attack American and allied forces," he added.

Commenting on President Obama's decision to send in additional 17,000 forces to Afghanistan for the continuing 'War on Terror', Holbrooke said the decision had to be taken because the situation in the region was worsening.

"Some people said you should have waited for the end of the strategic review to send the troops. That option was not available given the situation that President Obama inherited on day one of his presidency," Holbrooke said. (ANI)