Times Square bomb plot has damaged US-Pak ties: Qureshi

Islamabad/New York:

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said ties between his country and the United States have been adversely affected after the Times Square bomb plot, in which the Pakistan Taliban was involved.

Speaking to a TV channel, the minister said, "Ties between his country and the United States are damaged to an extent after the Times Square bomb plot. But Pakistan will provide every possible support to the US in investigations regarding Faisal Shahzad, the mastermind behind the Times Square bombing attempt."

The statement by the Foreign Minister comes after strong words from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - first warning of severe consequences and now hinting that elements in the Pakistani government know where Osama bin Laden is. (Read: US warns Pak of 'severe consequences' if attack traced there)

For too long, the US has been accused of being too soft on Pakistan and turning a blind eye to the militant groups that freely operate there. But the alarm bells are ringing now.

After initially denying it, the Obama administration announced that the Pakistan Taliban was behind last week's failed Times Square attack.

Now, the US says there are elements in Pakistan's Administration who are more informed about Al-Qaida and Taliban than they reveal. (Read: Pak Taliban plotted, funded Times Square attack: US)

Speaking in a television interview, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "I believe that somewhere in this government are people who know where Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida is, where Mullah Omar and the leadership of the Afghan Taliban is and we expect more cooperation to help us bring to justice, capture or kill, those who attacked us on 9/11,"

For a year now, the US and Pakistan have been cooperating in fighting America's war in Afghanistan. In return, Pakistan has been flooded with US military and civilian aid.

But the Times Square attack has turned domestic attention in the US on to the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and for the first time, the US has strong words for its ally in the war on terror.

"The US now understands that following a Pakistani vision for Afghanistan would basically be going back to the 1990s where Taliban rule set the stage for the 9/11 attacks. The US now understands that this is not good for its interests," says Lisa Curtis, South Asia expert, Heritage Foundation.

Ask an average American and they will recognize the name Al-Qaida. But the Tehrik-i-Taliban or the Pakistani Taliban is a group they have learnt about over the weekend.

Until now, the only terrorist group deemed capable of attacking US soil was Al-Qaida, but the Time Square bombing attempt presents a new worry for the Obama administration - that militant groups in Pakistan which previously had focused their attacks on local targets are expanding their reach.

With the US seeing a clear link between an attack on US soil and terrorist groups operating inside Pakistan, the Times Square plot may represent a turning point for the US-Pak relations.

Also Read:
Pak probes terror links to Times Square bomb
Faisal, from Pak, admits to Times Square bomb
Faisal Shahzad: From suburban father to terror suspect