No confirmation on ban on Haqqani network, JuD: US
State Department spokesperson says US govt doesn't have any confirmation on specific steps taken by the Pakistan govt
Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. PHOTO: AFP
The US government on Wednesday said that it did not have confirmation on Pakistan banning the Haqqani network or the Jamaatud-Dawa (JuD), NDTV reported.
“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.
RELATED: Revealed: Govt decides to ban Haqqani Network, JuD
“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,
“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.
RELATED: Revealed: Govt decides to ban Haqqani Network, JuD
“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,