US Congress throws crucial caveat into Pakistan ties

Says both countries cannot have true partnership until Islamabad severs ties with ‘terror outfits’

The US Congress is arguing against treating Pakistan as a strategic partner until the country agrees to sever its alleged ties with ‘terrorist outfits’.

In a letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry, House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel said the US should pursue a different approach with the Pakistani government, the BBC reported.

“We urge you to consider implementing travel restrictions, suspending portions of assistance, and sanctioning Pakistani officials that maintain relationships with designated terrorist groups,” the letter said.

It said the government of Pakistan has taken some steps to dismantle the infrastructure of al Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), but has not done enough to combat other ‘designated foreign terrorist groups’ such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Jaish-e-Muhammad.

“This selective approach appears to stem from a misguided belief that some terrorist groups serve Pakistan’s foreign policy goals in India and Afghanistan,” it said.

The letter welcomed Pakistan’s recent announcement that it will soon ban the Haqqani network, but voiced skepticism that this will result in any real change to Pakistan’s policy.

“After all, groups like the LeT and the JuD are ostensibly banned and still able to operate with virtual impunity,” it said.

“If Pakistan’s long-term prospects are to improve for all its people, its leaders must make a clear break from the policies of the past,” it said.

US Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki said she has not seen the letter and also could not confirm whether John Kerry had read it or not. She said the Congress’s letter would be replied.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2015.