<p>"It (ISI's links with terrorist outfits) is a concern, there's no question about it. But I would say that we walked out on Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1989 and left them basically holding the bag. And there is always the fear that we will do that again. I believe that's the reason there's a certain hedge," US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said.<br /><br />When asked about the Taliban having Stinger missiles, Gates said, "I don't think so." He repeated the same answer when asked twice during the interview.<br /><br />However Gates argued that there is change in Pakistan's perception. "What I see is a change in the strategic calculus in Pakistan. As they see these groups attacking Pakistan itself, where they are more and more partnering with us and working with us and fighting these insurgents and 140,000 soldiers in northwestern Pakistan fighting some of the same insurgents we are," he said.<br /><br />"We clearly would like for them to go after the safe havens. But they have gone after some of the safe havens, in south Waziristan and Swat and elsewhere, places where 18 months ago I wouldn't have believed the Pakistanis would be actively engaged, and militarily," Gates said.<br /><br />So the Pakistanis going after any of these groups, I believe, overall helps us in what we're trying to accomplish, both with respect to Afghanistan and with respect to Al Qaida, he observed.<br /><br />Gates said he is "mortified", "appalled" by voluminous classified documents on Afghan war released by the WikiLeaks last week, adding the leak has put to risk the lives of Afghans who helped US in its fight against terrorism.<br /><br />"It puts our soldiers at risk because they can learn a lot -- our adversaries can learn a lot about our techniques, tactics, and procedures from the body of these leaked documents," Gates said.<br /><br />So I think that's what puts our soldiers at risk and And then, as I say, our sources. You know, growing up in the intelligence business, protecting your sources is sacrosanct.<br />"There was no sense of responsibility or accountability associated with it," he added.<br />A Taliban spokesman has recently told a British news organisation that they are going to go after any of those names that they find in this treasure trove of documents.<br /><br />"Given the Taliban's statement, I think it basically proves the point. My attitude on this is that there are two areas of culpability. One is legal culpability. That's up to the Justice Department and others. That's not my arena. But there's also a moral culpability. That's where I think the verdict is guilty on Wikileaks.<br /><br />They have put this out without any regard whatsoever for the consequences," he said.</p>
<p>"It (ISI's links with terrorist outfits) is a concern, there's no question about it. But I would say that we walked out on Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1989 and left them basically holding the bag. And there is always the fear that we will do that again. I believe that's the reason there's a certain hedge," US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said.<br /><br />When asked about the Taliban having Stinger missiles, Gates said, "I don't think so." He repeated the same answer when asked twice during the interview.<br /><br />However Gates argued that there is change in Pakistan's perception. "What I see is a change in the strategic calculus in Pakistan. As they see these groups attacking Pakistan itself, where they are more and more partnering with us and working with us and fighting these insurgents and 140,000 soldiers in northwestern Pakistan fighting some of the same insurgents we are," he said.<br /><br />"We clearly would like for them to go after the safe havens. But they have gone after some of the safe havens, in south Waziristan and Swat and elsewhere, places where 18 months ago I wouldn't have believed the Pakistanis would be actively engaged, and militarily," Gates said.<br /><br />So the Pakistanis going after any of these groups, I believe, overall helps us in what we're trying to accomplish, both with respect to Afghanistan and with respect to Al Qaida, he observed.<br /><br />Gates said he is "mortified", "appalled" by voluminous classified documents on Afghan war released by the WikiLeaks last week, adding the leak has put to risk the lives of Afghans who helped US in its fight against terrorism.<br /><br />"It puts our soldiers at risk because they can learn a lot -- our adversaries can learn a lot about our techniques, tactics, and procedures from the body of these leaked documents," Gates said.<br /><br />So I think that's what puts our soldiers at risk and And then, as I say, our sources. You know, growing up in the intelligence business, protecting your sources is sacrosanct.<br />"There was no sense of responsibility or accountability associated with it," he added.<br />A Taliban spokesman has recently told a British news organisation that they are going to go after any of those names that they find in this treasure trove of documents.<br /><br />"Given the Taliban's statement, I think it basically proves the point. My attitude on this is that there are two areas of culpability. One is legal culpability. That's up to the Justice Department and others. That's not my arena. But there's also a moral culpability. That's where I think the verdict is guilty on Wikileaks.<br /><br />They have put this out without any regard whatsoever for the consequences," he said.</p>