Haqqani Network behind Afghan attacks

US ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker

following a statement on Thursday said, there is “no question” that the Pakistan-based Haqqani network was behind this week’s coordinated attacks in the capital and other eastern cities. Ryan Crocker following the statement said Pakistan needs to do more to clamp down on the group’s safe havens. Thursday’s statements were the strongest yet from a U.S. official blaming Sunday’s attacks on the Haqqani network, which is allied with the Taliban and al-Qaida. As new details emerged about the attacks, which included an 18-hour siege on key Kabul neighbourhoods, a senior Afghan intelligence officer said that the captured attacker had admitted to being part of a larger team tasked with waging similar operations ahead of a major NATO summit on Afghanistan in Chicago. This comes as US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also earlier said based on the intelligence reports the Haqqanis were behind the attacks that took place. Taliban militants group claimed responsibility behind the coordinated attacks and said heavy casualties were incurred to Afghan and coalition security forces following the clashes. The group also said the attacks were carried out to retaliate the burning of Holy Quran and assassination of 17 Afghan villagers by a rogue US soldier in southern Kandahar province