Pakistan spy agency accused of directing attacks against US targets

[nadinbrzezinski]

WASHINGTON — The Pakistani government, through its intelligence service, is "actively involved" in directing the militant Haqqani network to launch terrorist attacks against U.S. and Afghan government targets in Kabul, U.S. military officials tell NBC News.

Pakistan's powerful spy agency, directed the attacks by Haqqani militants on the U.S. Embassy on Sept. 13 and on the Inter-Continental Hotel on June 28. It's suspected ISI also had a role in the massive truck bombing targeting an American base in eastern Afghanistan on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, the officials said.

In a congressional hearing Thursday, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen called the Haqqani network a "veritable arm" of the ISI. Testifying alongside Mullen, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the U.S. has warned Pakistani authorities it will not tolerate a continuation of the group's cross-border attacks.

Military officials told NBC the Pakistanis are convinced that the U.S. is preparing to totally withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan and are "hedging their bets" for when that day arrives. "They're looking ahead, well past the Americans," an official said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44627163/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/