Pakistan’s renowned cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan said on Monday he believes Pakistan’s main intelligence agency, the ISI, does have ties with the Haqqani militant group, but said these connections could be put to good use. The United States has accused the Pakistani ISI of supporting the Haqqani network in its recent attacks on U.S. targets. Imran Khan spoke in Islamabad.

Imran Khan, Pakistani politician: “I do not think that ISI controls the Haqqani network. Yes, they would have connections with them. And if I was the United States, I would use this connection of the ISI with the Haqqani network to actually get them on the negotiating table, because what does U.S. want now? An exit strategy, because people in the U.S. have decided that they want the troops back—and this is according to all the polls. So, ISI should basically use whatever connections it has with the Haqqani network to get them on the negotiating table, rather than what Americans are suggesting, which is to take them on, because then Pakistan loses all leverage.”