U.S. warns Pak. against Masood's activities

WASHINGTON, JAN. 7. The United States has asked Pakistan to prosecute the militant leader, Masood Azhar, if it was found that he had violated Pakistani law and warned that it would hold Islamabad responsible for all his ``terrorist'' activities which threatened the lives of Indian and U.S. citizens.

``We would hold the Government of Pakistan responsible for Masood's activities which threaten the lives of our citizens,'' the State Department spokesman, Mr. James Rubin, said in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, yesterday referring to a speech by Masood Azhar in Karachi where he threatened Indians and Americans and vowed to continue the ``separatist fight in Kashmir''.

Mr. Rubin said, ``with respect to the issue more broadly of the speech of Masood Azhar, we find deplorable and unacceptable his reported remarks about destroying America and India. Such language feeds a climate of hostility against both countries and incites violence.'' ``Pakistan must assure the safety of Americans, Indians and all foreigners in Pakistan,'' he said.

He called on Pakistan to investigate whether the activities of Masood Azhar, one of the three militants freed by India in a swap for hostages on the hijacked Indian Airlines plane, were legal and insisted that no country ``permit terrorist activities to be organised from its soil''.

``We urge Pakistan to investigate carefully whether his actions have violated any Pakistani law. If so, he should be prosecuted accordingly,'' the State Department spokesman said.

``The U.S. knows that Masood Azhar is the secretary general of the renamed terrorist organisation (Harkat-ul-Ansar transformed into Harkat-ul-Mujahideen),'' he added. Asked whether Pakistan would necessarily be placed now on the list of countries that support terrorism or harbour terrorists, Mr. Rubin said: ``I am not going to speculate on the future. I think I used some quite strong language about our views on Pakistan's responsibilities here.''

``When and if the Secretary of State, Ms. Madeleine Albright, places new countries on the terrorist list, I will inform you and I don't think there is any need to speculate in advance of that,'' he replied.

Asked about the British Foreign Office statement that another released militant, Ahmed Umar Saeed Sheik, being a British citizen, could return to the United Kingdom, Mr. Rubin said: ``I will have to check what the facts are before I can answer you directly.''

On Wednesday, Masood Azhar addressed a crowd of thousands at an Islamic seminary in Karachi where he said the ``struggle to rid Kashmir of Indian authorities will continue''.

Masood Azhar, who had crossed over to Pakistan from Afghanistan after he was released in exchange of the hostages said, ``tell Indians and those who have suppressed Muslims that mujahideen (holy warriors) are a force of Allah and will hoist the flag of Islam in this world soon,'' he told the crowd.

- PTI, AFP

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