US reads riot act to Pak

US reads riot act to Pak
Chidanand Rajghatta

WASHINGTON, JAN 22: The United States has read out the riot act to Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, to the point of telling Islamabad to either act against the scourge or risk losing its favoured status with Washington. While there was some trepidation in India that US Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth's visit to Islamabad earlier this week may suggest recognition of the military regime, what has transpired is that the American official has delivered one of the toughest messages that the Clinton administration has summoned so far. According to reports from Islamabad, Inderfurth stopped short of accusing Pakistan of directly fomenting and exporting terrorism when he said ``Pakistan must curb Islamic militants groups operating within its borders who pose a major threat to the international community.''

Inderfurth also publicly disclosed that he had discussed the Indian Airlines hijacking episode with Pakistani officials and said the incident among others had raised the awareness of the threat of international terrorism. Specifically naming Harkat ul-Ansar, as one of the terrorist groups operating out of Pakistan, the US official was quoted as saying ``we hope that Pakistan will take steps against such extremist groups that carry out acts of violence in Pakistan as well as in the region. We believe that the presence and the activities of these groups give Pakistan a bad international reputation in the world community and this works against Pakistan's national interests.''

Although couched in language that would absolve Pakistan of officially sponsoring terrorism, Inderfurth's message indicates the US is now pressing Islamabad to defang the fundamentalist militant groups and dismantle the terrorist training schools operating in Pakistan. There is also pressure on the Pakistani government to take a hard close look at the madrassas in the country that are preaching a virulent and aggressive form of religion to impressionable youth.

The evidence and presentation by the Indian team during talks with US officials in London prior to Inderfurth's Islamabad visit has evidently been good enough for Washington to turn the heat on its longtime ally. With US counter-terrorism expert Michael Sheehan with him, Inderfurth told the Pakistani media that "there is a clear need to take the next step with respect to the hijacking which is to find the hijackers and bring them to justice.''

``We urged them (the Pakistani Government) to make every effort to determine their (hijackers') location and to do that we also informed them that, the United Staes, will make that a priority as well... and I know that having just returned from discussions in London with Indian officials they too have this as a priority," Inderfurth was quoted as saying.

The US officials' tough and meaningful message on the hijacking episode indicates that the Indian Government has presented compelling evidence in its interaction with US intelligence apparatus although it may have publicly botched the presentation. Washington is also not buying the Pakistani line that the hijacking is rooted in the Kashmir issue and it has nothing to do with it. ``I believe that the hijackers will be found. I believe that they cannot simply disappear from the face of the earth and I think that once they are found and brought to justice it will only underscore the message that actions like this will not be accepted by the international community in any shape," Inderfurth said.

The US official also delivered a roll call of American demands which he publicly enunciated after a two-hour meeting with `Chief Executive' Musharraf. Among them, the need to announce a return to the democratic path, signing the test ban treaty, stamping out terrorist camps, groups, and activity, and furthering economic reforms.

``All these measures, I want to add, we believe would enhance Pakistan's security. Finally, we stressed the urgency with which President (Clinton) and the Congress view these issues. We trust our messages have been received and understood, and that we have increased our mutual understanding on them," Inderfurth was quoted as saying in a language that could be considered offensive in many countries.

The US official's missives came on the heels of a similar roll call of demands by a influential group of Senators who visited Pakistan earlier. The Senators, including Democratic leader Tom Daschle laid out a five-point road map broadly covering the same areas Inderfurth spelled out, for Pakistan to salvage its deteriorating ties with Washington.

``For five decades Pakistan has been a loyal and trusted friend of the United States. However, for a variety of reasons this relationship is now at a crossroads. Paksitan faces a window of opportunity for improving this realtionship but that window could close if there is no progress in addressing the concerns that we raised," the Senators warned in a statement.

Indications here are that the Senate team and the US official team will brief the White House on their Islamabad missions. Based on their input, the President is expected to decide whether he will include Pakistan on the itinerary for his South Asia visit. If he finds the Pakistani signals and words inadequate and is not satisfied with the outcome, the White House will announce next week only a trip to India and Bangladesh towards the end of March.