Clinton considers blacklisting Haqqani network
President Barack Obama's administration has repeatedly demanded that Pakistan rein in the militant group active in Afghanistan and has targeted its members, but has stopped short of putting the network on the terror blacklist.
Obama on Friday signed a law - approved with overwhelming support of both parties in Congress - that gave 30 days to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to determine if the Haqqani network meets the criteria of a terrorist group.
"We share the grave concern of the Congress with regard to the activities of the Haqqani network," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
As for whether Clinton will designate the Haqqani network as terrorists, Nuland said without elaborating: "She's considering right now and reviewing the issue."
US officials have linked the Haqqani network to some of the most sensational attacks in Afghanistan including a June assault on a hotel near Kabul that killed 18 people and a siege last year of the US embassy.
The Senate and House of Representatives in their resolutions called on the State Department to add the network to its list of terrorist groups, which would freeze any Haqqani assets and make it a crime to fund them.
But the State Department, while designating certain members as terrorists, has balked at blacklisting the entire group in part because of its close ties to Pakistan.
Some analysts argue that Pakistan's relationship with the Haqqani network is more nuanced than it appears, with Islamabad primarily seeking to preserve leverage with a dangerous movement.
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@LionOfPunjab: Agreed. You remind me of cricket legend Ian Botham who famously said of Pakistan "its a pit, you would not even take your mother in law there". He was dead right. No cricket test playing nation want to visit Pakistan and that should tell you something.
@j. von hettlingen
Your statement is correct -- however this legislation was intended to send a message to both Pakistan and the Obama administration that the USA Congress has taken note of Pakistan's duplicitous activities and has had enough. Once the Haqqani are formally listed as a terrorist organization then funding for Pakistan is going to become difficult/impossible unless Pakistan takes overt action to demonstrate it's not assisting the Haqqani - the days of allowing Haqqani sanctuary without having blow back are coming to an end.
I guess the mother-in-law will soon be visiting us. Time to clean our house to make a good impression on saas or she will throw tantrums.
@amir farooq: Why stop there, why not go further and ask what is happening in S. Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen, Syria, Ughir, Karachi, Baluchistan and other places.
Haqqani is not killing Americans but killing innocent and poor Muslims of Afghanistan and Pakistan to thwart American led solution to the mess in the region. Wake up from your ideological madness. The network is stuck in middle age dogma of controlling the territory for power, which in olden days people called Amir-ship. Anti-Americanism is a recruitment tool for jihad and funding from ignorant masses, and after Americans it will be the "unislamic" rulers of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Designating Haqqani and company as a Terrorist organization essentially means that drones and boots are ready with or without PAK assistance and operations are planned and got congressional backing- plain enough?
PAK is considering operation not because of sudden change of heart but because of her own survival. Haqqani is not going to feed the hungry and heal the sick and it took PAK about three years to realize this.
In the end, PAK is going to do exactly what US asked her to do years ago. In the last 10 years, did PAK do anything against US interest and got away with it or refused to do what was requested by US?
Haqqani was a negotiating piece all along, but since that trump card has no value now PAK is left with no options.
It was Sec. Clinton who openly said several times in PAK that Haqqani network is a terrorist organization and if I remember correctly she gave snake analogy to the network.
Dear Pakistanis, she is waiting to come to India to announce it for your liking. Any problems with that.
@John B: what about the jews....killing of innocent Muslims in palatine they r not tarriest.
tell me john..what about the bodos in barma only haqani is the 1???????
What's the use of blacklisting the Haqqani network? These fighters don't operate outside Afghanistan and Pakistan. Do they have bank accounts abroad that can be frozen? How can the US prove and punish someone for "funding" the Haqqani fighters?
@Caramelized_Onion: Else where the learned Ejaj on ET says :We shrugged our shoulders and said the Haqqanis are an Afghan group, your problem."" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So pls make up your mind if its an Afghani or internal Pakistani group. Such clear focus in thinking is termed as 'chicanery'by another learned AVM on the pages of ET.
USian support to Pakistan Taliban has deteriorated the regional balance and future strategy.
The entire Haqqani group must be blacklisted urgently, as it essential for peace in Afghanistan & Pakistan. The majority of people in Pakistan are peace loving and want a modern & prosperous Pakistan..
@Caramelized_Onion: It’s Pakistan’s internal problem."" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So Ms Clinton is interfering in Pakistani internal affairs....Pls tell US that:)
So Haqqani network is even not a terrorist group so why should we go for an Army operation against them.
@Polpot: Yup exactly that. It's Pakistan's internal problem. So stop whinging about it :)
@suraj: imply they change the name of the organization and continue their activities.."" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ From Haqqanis to Happiness
There is NO thing such as Haqanni Network. Power thirsty US Leaders are striving to convert some innocent Muslims into a terrorist group to proceed with their conquest of Muslim territories, their oil & peace.
oh thats what they were negotiating with haqqanis?
Are they waiting for Chinese New Year ?
Its quite useless.. Simply they change the name of the organization and continue their activities..
@Caramelized_Onion: we will deal with the Haqqanis our own way. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You mean the way you have been dealing over the last few years?
Compromises and leniency on part of various US administrations brought the matters to this stage. Any delay would be disastrous.
Hope the Americans dont go for their not so successful 'shock and awe' policy like in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pakistani cities will bear the brunt of any NWA operation, and then the Americans will say, "Look, this is what you get for supporting the Taliban".
We know the play now, we will deal with the Haqqanis our own way.
Why are they thinking soo much? Why don't they just label it?
I think she clearly said long time ago in Pakistan itself that Haqqani network is a terrorist organization. The president signs a bill without consulting his top cabinet member ?
Mrs. Clinton what are you waiting for? You do not want to be timid just before the Nov elections, do you?