ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expressing frustration with Pakistan and warning that the U.S. will not allow the attacks on U.S. forces from Pakistan-based insurgents like the Haqqani network to continue.
Panetta spoke Wednesday as the 20-hour assault against the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, finally ended. He says it is unacceptable that the Haqqanis are able to launch such deadly attacks and then flee to havens in Pakistan.
Panetta says the U.S. will do all it can to defend its forces. He refuses to say if that includes new military actions.
The U.S. has increased its drone strikes into Pakistan's border regions.
Panetta spoke to reporters en route to San Francisco for a meeting with Australian leaders.
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