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Another US Congressman flays Pak

C K Arora in Washington

Another US law-maker has come out in favour of the demand for a Congressional hearing on Pakistan's role in abetting terrorism in Kashmir.

''It is deeply troubling that the government of Pakistan allows terrorist organisations to operate training camps and bases unhindered in its territory and provides political and logistical support for several of these rogue groups, including Harkat-ul-Ansar, which the state department declared a foreign terrorist organisation in 1997, and which has also been linked to the Indian Airline hijacking,'' Congressman Robert Wexler (Democrat) said in a statement last night.

In a letter to the House International Relations Committee Chairman Benjamin Gilman, he expressed concern about developments in Pakistan, including the proliferation of terrorist organisations that threaten the US and India.

Waxler, who is member of the House International Relations Committee as well as the Asia Pacific Sub-Committee, said the report highlighted a disturbing shift in terrorist activities directed against the United States from the Middle East to South Asia.

The report also places a new and significant emphasis on terrorism activity emanating from Afghanistan and Pakistan. ''Over the past several years, Afghanistan has become the training ground and base of operations for terrorists from all over the world,'' it says.

The state department report says that the Taliban, which controls most of Afghan territory, has given permission to and provided logistical support for non-Afghan terrorist organisations waging jihads in Chechnya, Lebanon, Kosovo, Kashmir and elsewhere.

The law-maker supported the Bill Clinton administration's decision to sanction Afghanistan, because of the Taliban's unwillingness to hand over Osama Bin Laden to US officials. ''Furthermore, the Taliban must be held accountable for any further terrorist activities initiated by bin Laden's organisation''.

''I am also increasingly concerned about developments in Pakistan, including the proliferation of terrorist organisations that threaten the United States, India, and our allies in the region,'' he added.

President Clinton during his March visit to Pakistan outlined the position of the United States with respect to terrorist organisations that are operating unhindered on Pakistani soil. In discussions with Pakistani leader General Pervez Musharraf, President Clinton urged Pakistan to change its destructive behaviour that negatively affects stability and security in South Asia.

''I believe that a full committee hearing would provide the proper forum to review the threat of terrorism in South Asia,'' Congressman Wexler said.

Earlier, prominent Democratic law-maker Sam Gejdenson made a similar demand, saying, ''I am fearful that the breakdown of rule of law and lack of civilian control and oversight of government will only lead to a more enabling environment for terrorism,'' Gejdenson said.

He is a ranking member of the House International Relations Committee.

UNI

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