WASHINGTON:
After Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen’s statement regarding the Haqqani network and its alleged links with the ISI, there is growing speculation whether the Haqqani network is designated as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO), it could lead to severe ramifications for Pakistan.
According to State Department officials, members of the group including Sirajuddin, Jalaluddin and Badruddin Haqqani have already been designated as terrorists by the Treasury Department.
State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said that while the US had already made designations against individual members of the Haqqani network, the organisation as a whole was being reviewed. “There are a number of legal things that have to go into making these designations, particularly when you designate a group as a whole, and you put a big blanket over a diverse network. That review is ongoing now and when we have something to say, we will say it.”
If the Haqqani network gets designated as an FTO, Marvin Weinbaum, a former State Department intelligence analyst on Afghanistan and Pakistan says that it will have severe ramifications for Pakistan. “Once you’ve said that Pakistan is, in fact, in league with Haqqani [network], if you make that point, then the next logical step is to say Pakistan is a supporter of non–state terrorism and that opens up all kinds of doors here, to sanctions, by not just the United States, but by the international community.”
What is the FTO designation?
Under the United States law, the Secretary of State, in this case Hillary Clinton, can designate an organisation to be an FTO under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to the law, the organisation has to be defined as engaged in terrorist activity, which also threatens the “security of US nationals or the national security of the United States”.
The law also stipulates that no one in the US can provide material support or resources to FTOs, nor can those subject to the US jurisdiction.
International Sanctions
Brian Fishman, Counterterrorism Research Fellow at the New America Foundation, says that by designating the Haqqani network as an FTO, the US is closing the door on reconciliation with them. “We’ve held out hope that the Haqqanis can be reintegrated into the new Afghan government.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2011.
____________________________________________
[poll id="516"]
COMMENTS (31)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@ Digvijay singh ? your smile says all about your clever political approach at home In the next election you will have to pay with interest .
@Mr singh, if you love these terrorists who are occupying Pashtoon land and Pashtoon people, you may invite them to stay in your town/city but Pashtoon people demands expelsion of these proxy organisation from thier land which have destroyed our society and our image, schools are burnt and blown up,11 hundreds elders killed, homes,mosques,bazar,wedding,funerals and any place where Pashtoon gathers have been bombed, kids are abducted from schools and forced to be suicide bombers, do we the Pashtoon deserve it as a humans in eye of humanist?
@Digvijay Singh: India or Indian will never like Paki rest aside using a rational approach toward them. Remember the comments Indians had for 2010 Pak Flood Victims on Youtube? If they have so much mercy for helpless & drowning victims what could they have for one standing on two feet & looking right in their eyes. It cost Advani his job for visiting Karachi(his home town) even though he was asked to set the foundation of a new Mandir equal in value as Babri-Masjid for Muslims. Anyway, Sardar Jee save your job if not your life from your countrymen. You are really a Lion Hearted & Open minded "man of modern time".
@YeaRight:
What has Pakistan done for Afghanistan? It has been responsible for most of the death and destruction in Afghanistan.
What has India done for Afghanistan? It has built hospitals, schools, roads, power stations, airlines .........
Refer to :Jawad Siddiqi. The names of the persons (Bhagat Singh etc) that you have listed never attacked citizens of another country, unarmed men, women and children. They were fighting against the colonial powers and they never exported terrorism to a neighbour.
The Americans are frustrated that they have failed to subdue the Afghans, despite all the men, money and fighting material at their command. So they want a scapegoat and Pakistan fits the bill superbly. Having said that, let us recognise the role of Pakistani leadership during the last thirty years or so. They have tried to adopt a larger than life role. The mujahideen (socalled) they trained to fight America's wars are now an albatross around their neck. The current leaders should realise that you can't eat your cake and have it, too. The Haqqani network, or whatever brand of militants they might be patronising are nobody's friends. As regards resisiting America, we know what our leaders are capable of; just keep their track record in mind. The best policy for Pakistan would be to keep away from regional politics, and defend its borders in earnest. Our plate is already full of problems, ranging from shortage of power to corruption, to floods every year to terrorism and militant political parties who are more akin to mafias. First they should set their own house.in order. The rest, including proseletysing zeal, etc. can come later.
The rhetoric goes on, but is now not the time to focus on the real issue of terrorism that is hurting both nations? Terrorists are no one’s friends, and their agenda has always been and will always be to create mayhem and destruction. We know for a fact that Pakistanis have paid dearly with life and property in the war against these terrorists… And our gratitude is with them.
Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today, in a briefing that included Joint Staff spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby, “We want to maintain a relationship with Pakistan that’s grounded in common interests, to include going after terrorists that threaten both countries.” “There are differences from time to time in the relationship with Pakistan, as there are in any partnership,” he added. “Those differences have been made public, and we continue to discuss [them] in private.” Our common enemies are the terrorists like the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Whether they are Haqqani, Quetta Shura or Meshuds, they are all the same, enemies of peace loving people! The sooner they are neutralized, the sooner peace will return.
People wearing pajamas and flip-flops taking on the sole super power in this world! What a joke!
I deeply regret the upper half of the comments made against our indian friend but satisfed with the lower comments coming afterwards. At this moment Pakistan think tank needs to be calm and composed and stop talking about war. Whether we loose or win a war, the ramifications of it are undescernible. Anyone thinking about wargames at the moment,for me is thinking absurd for Pakistan. Its not about patriotism,emotions or jehad here. Just be rational and think of economic prosperity. Khuda kay liyeh
Since Alexnder the Great, No invading army could had been tamed Afghanistan, a long history of invading armies has declared "Afghanistan a universal cemetry of soldiers" !
Now outging Admiral Mike Mullen and other serving Generals from Pentagon and US & ISAF Forces clearly read the writings on the wall. Since their attack against Afghanista in November , 2001, US & ISAF Forces are now on the receiving end. Any diversionary military tactics would not safeguard them from ultimate humiliating military defeat in Afghanistan.
Now any US military strike against Pakistan would be considered as an act of war and as a nation we are duty bound to return the call !
@To all eulogising Digvijay Singh:
His real name in India is "Digvijay Khan"
If Pakistan is labeled a 'terrorism supporting state' by the US there could be other problems too. What if the US govt. bans repatriation of money to Pakistan? If People of Pakistan origin who are living in US (citizens and otherwise) cannot remit back money to their folks in Pakistan, this would hurt bad.
As a country we need to assess what benefit the haqqani network will give to Pakistan versus keeping good ties with the only superpower in the world. it is not necessary to fight always.Peace with the Usa means more exports.If we had delivered Osama to the us we could have demanded 1 % of imports of every American company be Pakistani. that would have pulled more people out of poverty than anything. a perpetual war economy is not good for the poor. it only serves the narrow interests of the elite politicians and military. we need to make an export economy based on peace. we need to access not how much damage us withdrawing from the war on terror will have on the Us but instead how much damage we take. our self interest is good relations with all. economic ties with all.
@Digvijay Singh: thank you for that open minded writing, coming from india. on these pages all i see is hate from the other side of the border, but people like you prove that there are open minded, fair people on both sides.
Any network should be regarded as a terrorist networked if it is proven to cross the border, hitting another countries forces and sneaking back in. What people don't realise is that in this way this network jeopardises the security of the country. Would Pakistan tolerate such attacks from militants sneaking in from our international borders? The problem is when the army takes action against them, they turn the whole episode into a Muslim Army going after Muslims to "please America". That slogan is good enough to enrage the masses who are accustomed to seeing things in black and white only ommitting shades of gray in between.
@Indian Trolls Arindom,Mohan and Johar Since you people obviously have such concern for the Americans, why dont you ask our government to send its troops to Afghanistan and join the fight. Atleast unlike you Pakistan has done its share, what have you guys done for Afghanistan? @Mohan actually please don't overrate yourself. Alot of countries including yours have been trying to destroy us for decades but we are a resilient nation that has seen both the best and worst of times. In the end the world every now and then needs us, for some reason or the other because of our location, including your country if it wants to connect its pipeline to Afghanistan. I guess this is why you feel so bitter towards us, you have no choice by come back to us in one form or the other.
Asad: we need more people like this in both countries - pakistani's and indian's both need to learn to respect each other.
@Digvijay Singh
You are the first Indian I have seen on this site who has a conciliatory approach and does not hate Pakistan and Pakistanis. Thanks for the gesture. I wish more indians could think like you.
Malik : Please, Oh please for heavens sake, we all need Pakistan. Who else will provide so much of entertainment and fun
@all
Please don't misunderstand me. We need to build bridges between India and Pakistan for shared peace, prosperity and growth. The two countries are destined to live side by side forever. And this new journey can only begin with Indians acknowledging the giant contribution and innumerable sacrifices of Pakistan towards facilitating global harmony and stability. We must also accept Pakistan's immense geo-strategic importance.
@Digvijay Singh: Please also enlighten us if you consider Bhagat singh, Tipu Sultan, Mangal Pandey etc as freedom fighters or terrorists ????
@malik: Please, the world does not need Pakistan. They can turn Pakistan ahundred years back. You are talking big because of your nukes. Explode one and Pakistan will be a waste land for the next one hundred years with no second thoughts.They are pampering you now because they do not another Heroshima or a Nagasaki. Dont over rate yourself.
@Digvijay Singh: since u have used ur great sense of satire here .. please also enlighten us, what is ur idea of freedom fighter / hero and a terrorist ??? Please throw light on the cencept of one man's hero being anonther man's villian. How would you response, if haqqanis claim that they ar efighting US forces against their illegal occupation of their fatherland !!
@Digvijay Singh: After having being barred by the Congress President not to pollute the atmosphere in India, you have come on this daily to show your solidarity with Pakistan but I am sure you would be caught on the wrong foot for overdoing things here as well since it is your trait to put your foot in your mouth.
@Digvijay Singh: You forgot to add that the world needs Pakistan more than they need the world !
@ Digvijay Singh
Spot on sir!!
when rockets are fired from afghnistan nothing happens we all know that paktia and nuristan province are under control of the taliban
@Digvijay Singh:
Appreciate the satire...
As an Indian and a humanist, I strongly condemn this one-eyed snobbish attitude from America towards our neighbor Pakistan. There is simply no hard evidence of Pakistan supporting 'non-state terrorism' across the world. And if you admit that the terrorism is non-state, then how can there be state sponsorship in it? That is a contradiction of terms.
Pakistan has been the worst sufferer in the hands of terrorists losing 35,000 innocent lives. People don't feel free to go to mosques and shrines for their Friday prayers. With such a situation, it is incredible to say that Pakistan could have anything to do with terrorism. On the contrary, Pakistan is helping the peace negotiation process for a stable and peaceful neighborhood in Afghanistan and for that the elderly Afghan statesmen and social reformers called the Haqqanis need to be given due consideration by the international community.