NEW DELHI: News reports that Pakistan is contemplating banning several terrorist organisations including the Haqqani network and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) along with 10 other terror groups have been received with raised eyebrows and a pinch of salt in India whereas, the US welcomed the possibility, calling it an important step towards eliminating terrorist activities in that country.
The JuD was banned in 2008 after the Mumbai attacks. The UN Security Council listed JuD as an alias of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group. Hafiz Saeed was listed as leader of LeT and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Haji Mohammad Ashraf, and Mahmoud Mohammad Ahmed Bahaziq as senior LeT members. In 2002, its previous incarnation, Markaz dawa wal Irshad was banned after the US launched its war on terror. Times of Indias Indrani Bagchi reports that on both occasions, officials in New Delhi said, the group re-emerged with a new name and new bank accounts. After the 2008 ban, Jamaat emerged as Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Qibla Awal with its leadership, connections and funds intact.
The ban on the Haqqani network will be a first, even though in the past few months, the Pakistani army has launched military operations in North Waziristan, the declared home of the Haqqanis.
Despite the sense of scepticism in India, the US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf, was upbeat about the development. She told reporters in Washington We welcome the reports that the Government of Pakistan plans to outlaw the Haqqani Network, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, and I think about ten other organisations linked to violent extremism.
Press Trust of India quoted Ms Harf as saying, Certainly, this would be an important step going forward. We certainly believe that if this goes forward, that it would be an important step.
We have a long history of close cooperation with Pakistan on counter-terrorism efforts. Weve been very clear with the Pakistani government that they need to crack down and go after all terrorist groups that threaten them, threaten their people- their people are, unfortunately, the victims of more terrorist attacks than, people probably anywhere else, she said.
It is an ongoing conversation, certainly, but this would be a very important step, she added.
Mr. Kerry, she said, had a successful visit to Pakistan, referring to the just concluded visit of Secretary of State John Kerry to Islamabad.
He had a number of conversations, not just about counter-terrorism issues – although that was a huge focus, and obviously wanted to personally express his condolences over the horrific attack in Peshawar but also about the economic issues and other issues, she said.
Its a broad relationship that goes beyond security. I think that was a really key part of what he wanted to focus on when he was there. The banning of these terrorist groups is obviously for the government of Pakistan to decide on, but it was a very good visit, the State Department spokesperson said.
However, commentators in India are less optimistic. In the past week, Pakistan’s finance minister jumped the gun to say that the US state department would certify Islamabad’s compliance on terrorism to release $532 million in aid. The state department rushed to deny the reports. For Pakistan, banning terror organisations could be a good box to check, in this respect, and observers are questioning if that is what is really going on. –
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