The US Congress is stepping up the pressure on the Obama administration to slap the terrorist label on the Haqqani network, a militant group responsible for plotting and launching attacks from Pakistan against US-led forces in Afghanistan.
By voice vote Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved a bill that would require the secretary of state to report to Congress whether the Haqqani network meets the criteria to be designated a foreign terrorist organisation and if it not, then to explain why. The report is due within 30 days of the president signing the measure.
The Obama administration has sanctioned top-level individuals of the Haqqani network, but it is still reviewing whether to label the entire organization a terrorist one. That delay has frustrated members of Congress. Rep Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, added an amendment to the bill stating that it was the understanding of Congress that the Haqqani network meets the definition of a terrorist organisation and it should be designated as one. “The Obama administration has been considering formally designating the Haqqani network as a foreign terrorist organisation under US law but has yet to act,” said Rep. Tim Griffin, during a brief House debate.
Last week, the State Department defended its course of action. “We’ve been very aggressive about sanctioning their top individuals, and we’ve seen that as the most effective way to go about this. But the review is ongoing, and is actively ongoing,” department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters. The measure now heads to the Senate, which approved a similar bill sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr last December.
Slap the terrorist label on the Haqqanis
