Deadline looms: Clinton to present report on Haqqani network status
The law empowers the secretary to designate a terrorist organisation.
WASHINGTON:
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will decide by September 9 whether or not the Haqqani network meets the criteria of a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).
The clock began ticking on August 11, when President Barack Obama signed into law, the Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2012, a bill that calls for Secretary Clinton to submit a report to Congress on the matter within 30 days.
The law empowers the secretary to designate a terrorist organisation, if she finds that the group is engaged in activities that “threaten the security of United States and its nationals.” However, for now, the bill only asks for a report on whether the group meets that definition.
North Waziristan-based Haqqani network has been a focus of the US in recent years. The US has repeatedly called on Pakistan to take action against the group, which it blames for several high-profile attacks on US forces in Afghanistan.
In a recent visit to Washington, ISI chief Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam assured the US officials that Pakistan will not object if the US designates the Haqqani Network as an FTO.
The US State Department says that the review is on-going. Laura Lucas, a State Department spokesperson, told The Express Tribune, “Our core objective in Afghanistan is to defeat al Qaeda and to strengthen Afghanistan so that it can take responsibility for its security and development.”
But the question that many in the US capital have asked is how this affects the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. If the Haqqani network is designated as an FTO, the US can participate in reconciliation talks with its leadership, but may not be able to offer them a position in the Afghan government until they are de-listed.
Former White House National Security Council (NSC) director for Afghanistan and Pakistan Shamila Chaudhary, said that the designation would have implications for the reconciliation process.
“It is inconsistent with other measures the US has already indicated it is potentially willing to take to build confidence with senior Taliban leadership - such as agreeing to a controversial detainee transfer and recognising a Taliban political office if established, “she added.
Chaudhary speculates that the Haqqani network’s buy-in to reconciliation efforts will be critical for peace in Afghanistan. “The Haqqani leadership has publicly said it is part of the Taliban and will adhere to decisions made by its leadership. At the same time, the Haqqanis enjoy influence among tribes in the federally administered tribal areas and with communities in the border provinces of Afghanistan,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2012.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will decide by September 9 whether or not the Haqqani network meets the criteria of a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).
The clock began ticking on August 11, when President Barack Obama signed into law, the Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2012, a bill that calls for Secretary Clinton to submit a report to Congress on the matter within 30 days.
The law empowers the secretary to designate a terrorist organisation, if she finds that the group is engaged in activities that “threaten the security of United States and its nationals.” However, for now, the bill only asks for a report on whether the group meets that definition.
North Waziristan-based Haqqani network has been a focus of the US in recent years. The US has repeatedly called on Pakistan to take action against the group, which it blames for several high-profile attacks on US forces in Afghanistan.
In a recent visit to Washington, ISI chief Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam assured the US officials that Pakistan will not object if the US designates the Haqqani Network as an FTO.
The US State Department says that the review is on-going. Laura Lucas, a State Department spokesperson, told The Express Tribune, “Our core objective in Afghanistan is to defeat al Qaeda and to strengthen Afghanistan so that it can take responsibility for its security and development.”
But the question that many in the US capital have asked is how this affects the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. If the Haqqani network is designated as an FTO, the US can participate in reconciliation talks with its leadership, but may not be able to offer them a position in the Afghan government until they are de-listed.
Former White House National Security Council (NSC) director for Afghanistan and Pakistan Shamila Chaudhary, said that the designation would have implications for the reconciliation process.
“It is inconsistent with other measures the US has already indicated it is potentially willing to take to build confidence with senior Taliban leadership - such as agreeing to a controversial detainee transfer and recognising a Taliban political office if established, “she added.
Chaudhary speculates that the Haqqani network’s buy-in to reconciliation efforts will be critical for peace in Afghanistan. “The Haqqani leadership has publicly said it is part of the Taliban and will adhere to decisions made by its leadership. At the same time, the Haqqanis enjoy influence among tribes in the federally administered tribal areas and with communities in the border provinces of Afghanistan,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2012.