While a barrage of senior US officials started pouring Pakistan in an attempt to reduce the tension between the two countries, Washington is still entering into a fresh controversy by making new demands to prosecute the founder of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed with announcing a $10 million reward for information on him. The political gurus interpret this new US move as a motivated campaign against Pakistan on the prodding of India. The US announcement of bounty on Hafiz Saeed also meant to pressurize the on-going parliamentary review committee that is rewriting ‘terms of engagement’ (including suspension of the NATO supplies) for the future cooperation with NATO troops in the US-led war on terror.
It is very interesting that instead of appreciating Pakistan’s efforts against Mumbai suspects, India has hinged everything on the prosecution of Hafiz Saeed. How can Pakistan take action against Hafiz Saeed on the basis of hearsay and conjectures? So much so, Indian interior minister has been continuously urging the US to intervene in the issue and press Pakistan to act against Hafiz Saeed.
In the wake of on-going thorny US-Pakistan relations, the recent statement of US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner that it wanted the founder of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba to be prosecuted and jailed, is totally uncalled for development. Pakistanis want desperately for Americans to do good things in Pakistan.
Pakistan has experienced huge losses fighting insurgents at its own borders, nearly 6,000 troops and between 30,000 to 40,000 civilians. It will be unbecoming of America to pressurise Pakistan’s nascent democracy at a critical stage where Pakistan is facing with plethora of serious challenges. Under these circumstances, the US must not react impulsively on the prodding of Indians hawks.
NOOR-UL-HUDA
Islamabad
