Pak. a breeding ground for terrorism: U.S.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, APRIL 30. The United States today unambiguously condemned Pakistan for its role in global terrorism via the Taliban and in South Asia through continued support for militant and terrorist groups active in Kashmir.

``In 2000, South Asia remained a focal point for terrorism directed against the United States further confirming the trend of terrorism shifting from the Middle East to South Asia,'' the State Department said in its annual `Patterns of Global Terrorism Report'.

The report said the Taliban continued to provide a safe haven for international terrorists and that the Government of Pakistan ``increased its support for the Taliban and continued its support for militant groups active in Indian-held Kashmir, such as the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.''

The Bush administration has minced no words in accusing the Gen. Pervez Musharraf regime of continuing previous governments' support for the insurgency in Kashmir. It also took note of the fact that Kashmiri militants continued to operate in Pakistan, raising funds and recruiting new cadre.

Though the Lashkar-e-Taiba has not been formally designated a `Foreign Terrorist Organisation' (FTO), there is no doubt that the U.S. sees this outfit as a terrorist group, and one of the many that operate in Pakistan. The Terrorism Report takes note of the LeT claiming responsibility for a suicide car-bomb attack against a garrison in Srinagar last April.

Washington has also slammed Islamabad for its continued links with the Harkat, a designated FTO. The Harkat ``continues to be active in Pakistan without discouragement by the Government of Pakistan''.

The State Department went on to note that members of this group were responsible for the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight out of Kathmandu and that the released Harkat leader, Maulana Masood Azhar, has founded his own Kashmiri militant group and has publicly threatened the U.S.

Another stinging rebuke for Islamabad has come by way of the latter's links with the Taliban. ``Credible reporting indicates that Pakistan is providing the Taliban with material, fuel, funding, technical assistance and military advisors.''

Further, the report said Pakistan has not prevented large numbers of its nationals from moving into Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban. The only soft reference to Pakistan in the report is an acknowledgement that the Government in Islamabad ``generally has cooperated with U.S. requests to enhance security for U.S. facilities and personnel''.

Contrary to the sharp observations against Pakistan on the global and regional terrorism fronts, the report spoke of India's continued cooperative efforts with the U.S. in these areas. It pointed out that in 2000 the U.S.-India Joint Counter Terrorism Working Group met twice and agreed to increased cooperation on mutual counter-terrorism interests.

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Section  : International
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