The Bill was proposed by Congressman and Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism – Ted Poe from Texas and Congressman and a strong votary of the Baloch cause – Dana Rohrabacher from California.
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Even as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief is trying to drum up support for alleged rights violations in Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly in NY, a U.S. lawmaker has moved a bill to have the USA administration declare Pakistan as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’. Congressman Poe said. The bill is a powerful expression of the mood among lawmakers increasingly agitated about Pakistan’s ceaseless backing of terror groups that are taking lives of common people. Poe added that Pakistan was involved in the case of Osama Bin Laden and has had a close relationship with the Haqqani network and this hints at its nature to support terror.
However, considering the lesser amount of time left with Congress to consider the Bill, things can work in the favor of Pakistan.
This is the first time in many years that there is talk of formally designating Pakistan a terrorist state.
“Not only is Pakistan an untrustworthy ally, Islamabad has also assisted and abetted enemies of the United States for years”.
“I still remember (former) President (Bill) Clinton’s promise that the USA will play its role to help out in resolving bilateral disputes and issues between Pakistan and India”, Sharif told US State Department spokesperson John Kirby, according to Pakistan’s statement. Meanwhile India has focussed all its diplomatic momentum to blame Pakistan for the Uri attack in order to divert attention from grave human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.
Republican Party Congressman Pete Olson, in a separate statement, condemned the Uri attack on Indian soldiers and said that the perpetrators of the heinous act should be brought to justice. As Sharif held talks with world leaders on the sidelines of the 71st session of UN General Assembly to internationalise the dispute with India, the two lawmakers said it was time that the U.S. stopped paying the country for its “betrayal”. He said, “This is just latest outcome of Pakistan’s longstanding irresponsible policy of supporting and providing operational space for all stripes of jihadi terrorist groups”. He said, “Pakistan’s reckless behavior in this regard is a serious security risk to its neighbors – and India unfortunately pays the price all too often”.
“A threat to democracy in India is a threat to democracy everywhere”, Poe added.
“If our current efforts in Pakistan are not producing the results we seek then what are our options?”, Representative Matt Salmon, a Republican, had asked during a recent Congressional hearing about Pakistan.
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The timing is important since it is just ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech at the UN General Assembly.
