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Declare Pak a terrorist state: Pallone

C K Arora in Washington

Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone has urged the Bill Clinton administration to declare Pakistan a terrorist state after the publication on May 1 of the state department report which established a clear link between Pakistan and its official support for terrorism in Kashmir.

Unfortunately, the state department stopped short of adding Pakistan to the list of seven nations (Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, North Korea and Cuba) that are described as state sponsors of terrorism, he said in a statement last night.

Pallone, a founder member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, said he planned to raise the issue on the floor of the house.

One of the most dramatic findings of the report is that Pakistan, traditionally an ally of the United States, is guilty of providing safe haven and support to international terrorist groups, he said.

At the beginning of this year, Pallone introduced a legislation in the house, calling on the state department to declare Pakistan a terrorist state. ''I believe that the information made public this week gives added urgency to that effort,'' he added.

He, however, said, ''We can only hope that reason will prevail in Islamabad, and that the Pakistani government will see that the result of its present course will be increased isolation from the world community. If not, then we must be prepared to follow through and declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, with all of the stigma and isolation that goes with such a declaration.''

Pallone drew particular attention to a warning made this week by Ambassador Michael Sheehan, the state department's coordinator for counter-terrorism, that for state sponsorship or the designation of foreign terrorist organisations, you can do it any time of the year.

The Congressman also cited two of the key provisions of the US counter-terrorism policy, to isolate and apply pressure on states that sponsor terrorism to force them to change their behaviour, and to bolster the counter-terrorism capabilities of those countries that work with the US and require assistance.

President Bill Clinton, during his recent trip to South Asia, tried to appeal to the Pakistani military junta to cease support to terrorist organisations and activities, Pallone said.

The pressure on Pakistan must be maintained and strengthened. Pakistani leaders should be reminded that the threat that their country could be designated as a terrorist state is a real one which could be invoked at any time.

India has been the prime victim of terrorism emanating from or supported by Pakistan. Thus, in keeping with the state department's stated policy, ''we should strive to work much more closely with India, a democracy, on counter-terrorism efforts,'' Pallone said.

UNI

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