U.S. hopes Pak. will get the message

By Amit Baruah

ISLAMABAD, MAY 2. The United States appears to be using a classical ``carrot and stick'' policy towards Pakistan as far as its concerns on the all-crucial issue of terrorism are concerned.

The U.S. State Department report on Patterns of Global Terrorism, 1999, makes it clear that while using tough language and expressing American concerns in clear terms, Washington remains hopeful that Islamabad will fall in line with its agenda on counter-terrorism.

As compared to the 1998 report, the U.S. no longer shies away from pointing the finger at Pakistan. The 1999 compilation also makes it clear that in South Asia the U.S. will continue to use the ``designations of state sponsors (of terrorism) and foreign terrorism organisations, political and economic pressure, and other means as necessary to compel those states that allow terrorists to live, move and operate with impunity and those who provide financial and political patronage for terrorists to end their direct or indirect support for terrorism''.

While Pakistan may have escaped the designation of being a state sponsor of terrorism, the report goes on to say: ``Pakistan continues to send mixed messages on terrorism. Despite significant and material cooperation in some areas - particularly arrests and extraditions - the Pakistani Government has also tolerated terrorists living and moving freely within its territory. Pakistan's Government has supported groups that engage in violence in Kashmir, and it has provided indirect support for terrorists in Afghanistan.''

In case Pakistan does not move to meet U.S. concerns on the terrorism issue, it could face further action from Washington in the weeks and months to come.

The Interior Minister, Mr. Moinuddin Haider, recently visited the U.S. and so has the FBI chief, Mr. Louis Freeh, toured Islamabad. The U.S. has spelt out its counter- terrorism agenda and is waiting for Pakistan to take action. In the U.S. report, the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen remains a cause for principal attention. American sources believe the outfit was responsible for the multiple rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Islamabad on November 12, 1999.

Given the deafening silence of the Musharraf Government on the rocket attacks, and its inability to nab those responsible for, the U.S. Embassy here issued a series of newspaper advertisements promising rewards for information relating to the attack. Further, it sought information on any possible future attacks on U.S. citizens living in Pakistan.

The report makes it clear that the U.S. has ``made repeated requests to Islamabad to end support for elements harbouring and training terrorists in Afghanistan and urged the Pakistan Government to close certain religious schools that serve as conduits for terrorism. Credible reports also continued to indicate official Pakistani support for Kashmiri militant groups, such as the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, that engaged in terrorism.''

The issue of whether or not Pakistan would move to meet U.S. concerns on terrorism remains unclear. Given its total and blind support for militants operating in Kashmir, Islamabad will find it difficult to admit that its ``freedom fighters'' are actually terrorists and need to be restrained.

Already, the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has said there are differences in perception between the U.S. and Pakistan on the definition of terrorism, categorically denying that Pakistan was ``harbouring terrorists''.

Responding to the U.S. report, the Interior Minister, Mr. Moinuddin Haider, has gone on record to reiterate that ``jehad'' was not ``terrorism''. In the days and weeks ahead, this ``distinction'' between ``jehad and terrorism'', first enunciated by Gen. Musharraf, will come under increasing pressure from abroad.

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Section  : International
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