Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. PHOTO: AFP
“We recognise that Pakistan is working through the process of implementing measures to thwart violent extremism, including the national action plan. We don't have any confirmation of specific steps," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
On January 15, Pakistan had decided to ban the Haqqani Network, JuD — led by Hafiz Saeed who has been linked to masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terror attack -- and 10 more organisations in a move described by security analysts as a ‘paradigm shift’ in the country’s security policy.
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“The Pakistani government has made clear in both private conversations and public statements that it is in Pakistan's own interest to take steps against all militant groups in Pakistan, and explicitly to not differentiate between such group,” Psaki said.
The decision came after weeks after a deadly attack by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on the Army Public School in Peshawar, in which over 130 children were ruthlessly slaughtered.
“We support this commitment and believe that it is fundamental to addressing terrorism and ensuring attacks such as the horrific one that happened just weeks ago that impacted the Peshawar school children never occur again,” Ms Psaki said.
RELATED: Assets of all banned outfits, including Jamaatud Dawa, frozen: FO
It has been reported that both groups were to be banned following international pressure. In regard to this, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said the country had taken the decision under the UN obligation as opposed to being under pressure from elsewhere.
“Pakistan took this decision under the UN obligation and not under pressure from any other quarter including John Kerry (US Secretary of State),” Aslam said,
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On one hand,Pakistan says that it does not distinguish between terrorists of all hues.Good and bad Taliban is in the past.On the other hand they are reluctant to ban the Haqqani and Let aka Jamatud Ud Dawa,without prodding from the US.Truly actions speak louder than words.Conclusion is that one can take their statements about going after all Taliban equally with a generous pinch of salt.
@Shahrez Qureshi:
"US can make world a difficult place for Pakistan, and Pakistanis – but nothing more"
Your statement above is an understatement.
"one person says one thing and does something else hasn’t proved as beneficial"
I believe the US has been consistent on its position with PAK and PAK has not been very forthright. The Editorial in ET praises Govt Ban based on the govt word, whereas US state Dept. says otherwise. PAK SC has also asked govt to publish the list of banned organizations and assets. Has it happened?
I harbor my doubts as to the efficacy of ban and the implementation of it in PAK.
@Shahrez Qureshi:
No kidding. It's unfortunate but a history of saying one thing and doing another destroys credibility - and in the long run credibility is everything.
The ban means nothings. All these organizations will reappear under different names within months. It was a mindset that created these people. That mindset is still intact. Can you ban people from thinking? These are people who have devoted their whole life to a particular purpose. They are not just going to fad away into the night just because somebody somewhere signed a piece of paper.
US can make world a difficult place for Pakistan, and Pakistanis - but nothing more. Whatever Army and ISI's stance maybe, they should take it with their heads held up high. Diplomacy, the kind of in which one person says one thing and does something else hasn't proved as beneficial as was expected.
US government now knows Pakistan very well. The double gaming of Kiyani and Pasha has completely destroyed the credibility of its statements. That coupled with the lies and deceit policy of Nawaz Sharif and his ministers have compelled the US to wait for concrete actions on ground before jumping on copy& paste statements.