Pak. plays down U.S. statement

By Amit Baruah

ISLAMABAD, JAN. 22. Americans are concerned about terrorism as a ``global phenomenon'', a Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman said in response to the strong statement of concern from the U.S. on Friday about terrorist groups operating from Pakistani soil.

The spokesman, when asked specifically what Pakistan proposed to do about groups like the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, did not respond to the question.

The spokesman, however, said the American delegation led by the Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Karl Inderfurth, carried back the impression that Pakistan was as concerned about terrorism as anyone else.

Asked what steps Pakistan was taking to locate and bring the hijackers of the Indian Airlines aircraft to justice, the spokesman said the question carried some ``presumptions''.

The Indians, he claimed, had not given any ``clue'' about the identity of the hijackers. ``Finding phantoms is not easy,'' he maintained, adding that if apprehended, the hijackers would be prosecuted.

The U.S. fears the safety of its nationals living in Pakistan - groups like the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and the Lashkar-i-Taiba have repeatedly threatened American nationals - so, the American statement is rooted in its own concerns.

However, when a senior U.S. official says that the ``presence and activities of these (extremist) groups gives Pakistan a bad international opinion in the world community and thus works against Pakistan's national interest'', it is time for Islamabad to sit up and take notice.

If, however, Pakistan takes a business-as-usual approach to the American concerns on terrorism, then it is in danger of losing further face with the international community, particularly the U.S.

As of now, extremist groups have open offices across Pakistan. The representatives of these groups hold press conferences and issue statements and collect funds for their ``jehadi causes'' in full public view. It should not be very difficult for Pakistan to put a stop to all this.

The Kandahar hijacking, which affected a single U.S. national, seems to have placed the spotlight back on the groups operating from Pakistani soil.

PTI reports:

Concerned over Pakistan's support to Afghanistan's Taliban regime, ``which harbours and protects'' Osama Bin laden, the U.S. today asked Islamabad to ``use its influence'' with the religious militia to have the Saudi dissident expelled from Afghanistan and take him to a place ``where he can be brought to justice''.

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Section  : International
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