New Delhi: The US State Department's labelling of Pakistan among the nations and regions providing "safe havens" to terrorists was not a strong enough reprimand and the country deserves sharper castigation, American Congressman Ted Poe has said.
''The 2016 Country Reports on Terrorism released today by the State Department unfortunately amounts to a continuation of the Department's misguided Pakistan policy. Despite calling out Pakistan for its persistent support for terrorism and failure to take any significant action against terrorists like the Taliban and the Haqqani Network, the State Department continues to call Pakistan 'an important counterterrorism partner.' This is not only a misguided policy, it is has proven to be a complete failure in advancing US national security interests. Continuing to do the same thing while expecting different results is the definition of insanity. It's time we brought back some common sense to our foreign policy," Mr Poe said.
Mr Poe, a Republican, had along with Democrat Rick Nolan in June introduced a Bill in the US Congress for revoking Pakistan's Major Non-NATO Ally or MNNA status and make "a clean break" from the country for "harbouring terrorists".
Political sentiment in the US has been increasingly critical of Pakistan in recent months. US President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor HR McMaster and Defence Secretary General James Mattis have spoken publicly against Pakistan's complicity in recent weeks. Earlier this year, US lawmakers refused a subsidise sale of F-17s to Pakistan and last month a bill to tighten restrictions on US military aid to Pakistan was passed.
In the annual report mandated by the Congress, the State Department yesterday said that terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed continued to operate, train, organise and fundraise inside Pakistan in 2016.
India, it said, continued to experience attacks, from "Pakistan-based terrorists".
"The segments in South and Central Asia in the US State Department's Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 vindicate India's long-standing position on the menace of cross-border terrorism in our region," government sources told NDTV responding to the report.
''The 2016 Country Reports on Terrorism released today by the State Department unfortunately amounts to a continuation of the Department's misguided Pakistan policy. Despite calling out Pakistan for its persistent support for terrorism and failure to take any significant action against terrorists like the Taliban and the Haqqani Network, the State Department continues to call Pakistan 'an important counterterrorism partner.' This is not only a misguided policy, it is has proven to be a complete failure in advancing US national security interests. Continuing to do the same thing while expecting different results is the definition of insanity. It's time we brought back some common sense to our foreign policy," Mr Poe said.
Political sentiment in the US has been increasingly critical of Pakistan in recent months. US President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor HR McMaster and Defence Secretary General James Mattis have spoken publicly against Pakistan's complicity in recent weeks. Earlier this year, US lawmakers refused a subsidise sale of F-17s to Pakistan and last month a bill to tighten restrictions on US military aid to Pakistan was passed.
Advertisement
India, it said, continued to experience attacks, from "Pakistan-based terrorists".
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Second Test Between Pakistan And Bangladesh Shifted From Karachi To Rawalpindi "Those Who Made Errors Are Still There": Ex Pakistan Captain On Babar Azam 'Fitness' Doubts For First Time, UK Plans To Treat Extreme Misogyny As A Form Of Terrorism "Trusted Mamata Banerjee But...": Father Of Murdered Doctor To NDTV Flower Seller Forced To Buy iPhone For Son On Hunger Strike, Internet Reacts "Like Indira Gandhi...": Student Arrested For 'Shoot Mamata Banerjee' Post US Man Recalls Moment Pilot Said He Didn't Have "Qualification" To Land Former Kolkata Hospital Principal At CBI Office For Day 4 Of Questioning "Makes Muslim Women's Condition Pathetic": Centre On Triple Talaq In Court Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.