Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar defends Pak intelligence agencies in UN speech

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has defended her country's intelligence agencies in fighting terrorism amid a row with the US over allegations that the ISI had backed the Haqqani network in carrying out high-profile terror attacks.

Pakistan is determined to eliminate the "spectre of terrorism" from its soil and it is "keenly aware" of the threat that terrorism poses to its neighbours, Khar said.

Addressing the 66th session of the UN General Assembly on behalf of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Khar said very few countries have been ravaged by the "monster of terrorism" as "brutally" as Pakistan has.

Defending the role of country's intelligence agencies, amid a row with the US over ISI's link with the dreaded Haqqani network, Khar said, "Notable success against al-Qaeda and its affiliates has been registered in recent years.

It is well known that following the Tora Bora bombing and consequent dispersal of al Qaida, it was Pakistan's intelligence and security agencies that interdicted a large number of al Qaida operatives.

Very recently, Yousuf Al Mauritani, the Chief Operative of Al-Qaeda was arrested in a joint ISI and CIA operation."

"If I began recounting Pakistan's sacrifices and Pakistan's suffering, I would keep you here till next September. We do not take terrorism lightly. We cannot to afford to take terrorism lightly, we have suffered far too much at its hand," she said.

US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen had described the Haqqani network as a "veritable arm" of the ISI.