WASHINGTON: US Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher on Tuesday said that the Government of Pakistan was radical, and supported the Taliban, there by an enemy of the United States and freedom.
Rohrabacher made these statements while addressing a press conference on the subject of Balochistan at the National Press Club. Reps. Steve King and Rep. Louie Gohmert, who were co-sponsors of his house concurrent resolution on the right of self-determination for Baloch, accompanied him at the press conference.
Rep. Rohrabacher, who mispronounced Baloch as Bal-ook for the entirety of the press conference, dispelled allegations that he was being paid by a lobby or an individual for raising the cause of the Baloch people. He said that Pakistan was murdering women and children in Balochistan. He said that his trips to the region came from committee funds that were in turn financed by US taxpayers.
In response to a question, he said that he has also raised the issue of human rights in Kashmir in the past, and said that certain people were purposely raising the issue of Kashmir to deflect attention from the issue of Balochistan.
Rep. Rohrabacher, who is also the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, said that he was one of Pakistan’s best friends in the past. The US Congressman said, “Pakistan decided to be enemies of the US years ago.”
He said that during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Pakistan was sending money to radicals who hated the United States. He alleged that Pakistan has an “anti-American” relationship with China.
Congressman Louie Gohmert said that Pakistan was not only supporting the Taliban, but was also terrorising the Baloch. He said that the Baloch people wanted the right to freedom.
When asked about the statements by the Indian and US Government who have said that they support Pakistan’s territorial integrity, the Republican representative said that they are trying to change the US policy, and the Balochistan resolution was an effort to start a national debate on Balochistan.
Rep. Rohrabacher last month presented a resolution on giving Baloch the right to self-determination along with two co-sponsors in a House with 242 Republican members. The resolution was then referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The US State Department has maintained that the US respected Pakistan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Last month, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, "Members of Congress introduce legislation on many foreign affairs topics, but they don’t in any way imply US Government endorsement of those positions, and we don’t generally comment on pending legislation."
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In bad sense honesty is called cowardness and in good sense cowardness is honesty, the best policy.
Pakistan does not deserve democracy due to its socio economic culture. This is what democracy in Pakistan does. . .it promotes corruption and insecurity. Pakistan is not ready for democracy, due to extreme corruption, it deserves danda and marshall law, only then the terrorist and their foreign funders get scared and stay away. All foreign powers and terror masters wanted democracy so very badly in Pakistan so that they could infiltrate with ease and cause havoc and this is exactly what is happening in Pakistan and is out of control. . .every Tom. Dick and Harry can say and do what ever damage to Pakistan as it pleases . . .it is free for all . . .it is democracy in Pakistan!
Thank you, dear Congressman Rohrabacher,Reps. Steve King and Rep. Louie Gohmert. Our own country has let us down. When we bring up countless murder and torture of our own father/son/brother/husbands, my so called countrymen bring up issue of the 'real' pakistanis killed, i.e. pooonjabi. They wont admit that these poooonjabi's come to our land, rape our resources, take all the provincial jobs which should be reserved for us only. Look at comments made by so called 'countrymen' on this article. Nobody ever criticize the army,FC and intelligence agency who are the murders of their own citizens in thousands. Better die an honest death than treated as slaves.
to all pakistanis who are making fun of roarbacher for mispronoucing baloch as balook - that could be because in many indo-european languages, of which balochi is one, ch is often pronounced rather similarly to k .... so he is quite logical even in such a mispronounciation . ... secondly he is refelecting not only his own opinions but in fact those of the silent majority of the USA .
It may be news to Pakistanis but what the congressmen is saying about Pakistan being an enemy of the US is shared by most Americans if you go by the editorial pieces in american media and the blog posts and comments in their online media. I think you guys should wake up before its too late. The US is not like India. You cannot play games with it and get away without paying a huge price for that mistake. Even the most liberal of the American presidents like Obama will always make sure that Pakistan pays a price for the games it's been perceived to be playing. You won't find any manmohan like leader in the American government who talks piece even after being attacked like it happened in Mumbai. So better stop the games before its too late.
Chill out . . .mind your own business as you do not understand even an aota of what's going on in Pakistan. A genocide is being committed against the entire nation which involves many lives, about 40,000. lost and many displaced. No region in Pakistan has been spared. Only military muscle can straighten this mess that is infested with foreign Indian Agents and its partners in crime. Too much Indian influence on the Senator.
Is it true that US offered to make sardar as Governors of each district in indep Baluchistan?? so that they have access to oil, gold. Can any1 tell me how many milk canals are made by Sardars for their tribe -none. all royalty is taken from PPL etc and ghost employees re hired whose salary is again given to Sardar. The bottom line is wealth and power. As muslim, should we run after them or better forego rights to earn Jannah?
@harry stone: regarding @Momin, perfect.
@Momin:
That would solve so many problems.
@Zeta Most Indians are better educated and know how to search things other than porn in Google.
With USA - Being enemy is better than friend.
Dana Rohrabacher your forefathers annexed Texas from Mexico and Mexicans still risk their lives to get into the land of their forefathers.
Since the Islamic world cannot fund an uprising in Mexico, you may live in peace in Texas. But US can ignite the fire in Libya, Syria, Iran and call it Arab Spring.
Wait for the US Spring! All of you have read about the armagedon. Haven't you?
More indians are active on this thread than Pakistanis. Perhaps these people have nothing to do in their own lives
Haha funny speech. This guy is a joker, you know someone who features in a movie and is the first one to die without any dialogues as well. #Laugh #Laugh #Laugh
Not to worry about this Guy ..He does not even have any credibility at home within his own state...He is desperado & needs money to propagate against Pakistan. If you read more about his practices in the past you will know more about him and you will realise his words are nothing more than a spit in the fire !!!!
It seems in the photograph that the congressman has just got of bed and has not woken up completely to think what he is saying.
the americans want to invade pakistan and attack the mythical non existing quetta shura dont trust them look at present day libya to get your answer
@Dana Rohrabacher: "40,ooo pakistanis sacrifice for america war on terror"......dude! 40000 Pakistanis did not die because of war on terror, they died at hands of their own local terrorists. Why would world pity you if you die at the hands of monster you create?
Balochistan is an integral part of Pakistan. Both historically and at the present moment. The momentary, sensationalist, statements of a mere congressman can not and will not change that.
Rohrabacher is an ignorant idiot who probably can't name the capital of Balochistan let alone the cultural aspects involved in the situation over there. We all know that the power loving "Sardars" are trying to create disunity amongst Balochis for their own personal gain.
What is needed here is a 'Deep Breath' and detailed analysis . . .start off by bringing in the Pak Army for cleanup mop operation against the foreign terror masters. Once the Army does its job, the entire Bochistan can rest in peace. Right now Balochistan is being exploited by foreign enemies mainly India who is bent upon destabalizing Pakistan. The world leaders have to understand this and not take things at face value and get too excited. On the other hand they should act responsibly by not giving a blind eye to this conspiracy by India! The responsibility also lies with Pak military for not stepping in with full force and wiping out the foreign spy netwotk that seems to be causing the killing and inhumane destabalizing activities in Balochistan. In other words, an Indian proxy war has been imposed upon Pakistan through the back door.
It is time that we declared war on the U.S.A and annihilate this enemy of Islam once and for all. Remember, that it was our Iman, belief in the Prophet(PBUH), that brought the superpower U.S.S.R to it's knees. I am sure we can do the same to the U.S.A. I will be the first to commit to the glorious jihad, when this is announced.
we do understand that there is a problem in baluchistan and that should be adressed urgently, however i wonder how this propaganda factory makes its way to our headlines.
" Unfortunately, there are reasons to suspect that Congressman Rohrabacher's actions are not inspired by any genuine concern over ongoing human rights violations perpetrated against, as well as by, the Baloch inhabitants of the province." http://www.wichaar.com/news/294/ARTICLE/28057/2012-02-23.html Rohrabacher's "Blood Borders" in Balochistan
It is high time Pakistan must re-think about its relationship with US .As today Afghanistan -Iraq-Iran -Syria -Cuba -Venusela-North Korea all are enemies of US .
Mr. Rohrabacher, I beg you to please say that your lobbyists or an individual is India and RAW. You choose India because it preaches 'live and let live' than to brainwashing and hatred towards the world. As for RAW (being ineptness and inefficiency of the highest order), have blinded the worlds best spook ISI by being invisible and creating distastes like flood and drought, earthquakes, no gas and electricity, kidnappings and murders and the sectarian violence inside Pakistan.
If pakistan enemy of america why its citizens given sacrifice for america war on terror
40,ooo pakistanis sacrifice for america war on terror
even real brother dont give such sacrifies.
US Congressman Rep. Rohrabacher forgets that many people who has nothing to do with taliban
died in pakistan reason
pakistan is fighting america war on terror.
Censoring a view point and lobby won't really serve the purpose. Address the issue instead 1!!
The right to self-determination is an inalienable right of all nations. Genocide is never an internal issue of any country.
@Saaim: You should hear how some of the subcontinent denizens speak English ! How he pronounces any word is not important - it is what he is saying that is important.
Who cares what a demented person says. A person who can't even pronounce 'Baloch' properly suddenly becomes an upholder of 'Baloch rights'. Something is fishy out there. I doubt that he even knows the number of districts in Balochistan.
@Bhindian:
He is quite sane and his position reflects the feelings of a near majority of Americans.
ET Don't want to know the truth or what
How's that news? 1 Congresman can say whatever he/she wants to but why did that news make it as the top story...
I think the less time that the Pakistani press spends on an unstable politician the better. The guy is clearly unstable - even the Us government and the rest of Congress think he is mentally unbalanced. He may be on the payroll of the Indian lobby but who cares. His words do not carry any weight anywhere.
Bhindian wrote 4 hours ago
May I know exactly why ET continues to publish statements of this person who quite clearly is not mentally stable? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Dear Bhindia,
Would you like ET to stop publishing your posts if someone thinks you are mentally unstable? You won't.
What makes you think Dana Rohrabacher is mentally NOT stable? He was one of the biggest supporter of Pakistan-USA war of 1980s being a Republican.
Me thinks Bhindian is raw and sour. I am sure many reasonable readers will agree with me.
Rep. Rohrabacher, “who mispronounced Baloch as Bal-ook” Come one we all know about different pronunciations like chemistry and Chopra debate. Rep. Rohrabacher is obligated to express the sentiments of his constituents and he is right on the ball. History will treat Rep. Rohrabacher as a pioneer.
@Bhindian:
He is quite stable and his views are those of a near majority of Americans.
ET you are aiding and abating the enemies of Pakistan by publishing this hogwash from an ultra right wing, crazy, bonehead, cowboy mentality person. This man stood with the Jihadis in the 80's to defeat the enemy of the US, and was part and parcel of US policy which created the terrorist jihadis who are terrorizing Afghans and Paks alike; and now he is blaming Pakistan for creating them. What a bunch of non-sense this is. ET, I am seriously beginning to question your entire team's wisdom for wasting your pages on this crazy man's statements.
Kashmir --- as issue since 1948 is used to "distract" from Baluchistan.
The Americans invent the IPOD, the IPHONE, the IPAD and now I-Baloch
I disagree. As long as Pakistani army supports radicals and selectively encourages non-state actors to kill common people. that includes Pakistanis, Pakistan should be termed as enemy of the entire civilized world.
In Kashmir, all leaders of seperatist movement are free from the very hard core Geelani to the more moderates. They organize rallies, preach secession freely. JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik, even freely travels to Pakistan ! They do not recognize the accession to India by king of Kashmir and J&K assembly just as Baluch seperatist do not accept the accession to Pakistan by Baluch leader. Compare the freedoms enjoyed by Geelani to Malik to Baluch seperatist leaders, whose dead bodies are dumped. Do you see the difference ? That difference is called India and Pakistan.
@Bhindian: I agree. Not only is this Rohrabacher a fool but he is a nobody. Even US media does not give him any time so why is ET giving him any coverage at all ?
You have a lot of mess to take care of within the USA boundaries Mr Congressman. Why waste tax payer money in Pakistan? Like we dont know you. Lol.
Oh my. Balochistan and Kashmir in the same article with someone from the US speaking the words. This is going to get entertaining. ...Aside from that, if I think about it, I can't recall even Pakistan's government really calling itself a friend and they're silent during religious hate rallies so... At the very least it's hard to disagree there. The only time I see "ally" talk is when Pakistan wants something.
This guy gets crazier and crazier everyday!
"Republican representative said that they are trying to change the US policy, and the Balochistan resolution was an effort to start a national debate on Balochistan." . Probably should demand that Congressmen drop this subject as a condition for allowing NATO supplies --- might as well because you have as much chance of gagging a US congressmen as stopping drones or getting an unconditional apology after firing at American troops first. Editor should also double check spelling - the corrected version should use thereby.
Plausible move by US congressmen on Balochistan's human rights emergency. Even when Dana and other congressmen were speaking at press conference six mutilated bullet riddled bodies of six Baloch political activists found on roadside in Baluchistan.
typical thing for ET to write. pakistan bashing wooohooo
May I know exactly why ET continues to publish statements of this person who quite clearly is not mentally stable?
Who cares - politicians in Pakistan say things ten times worse about the US government every day.