Pak new transit point for terrorists, says US

WASHINGTON, FEB 17: The United States has for the first time said Pakistan has become a quot;transit pointquot; for terrorists and it is...

WASHINGTON, FEB 17: The United States has for the first time said Pakistan has become a quot;transit pointquot; for terrorists and it is reviewing quot;some ofquot; Islamabad8217;s quot;activities in terms of terrorismquot;.

quot;We have been concerned about the fact that groups like the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, which we believe was involved in the recent hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane, are operating from Pakistan and it has become a transit point,quot; Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

Referring to Pakistan8217;s support to Afghanistan8217;s Taliban militia, which shelters international terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden, she said quot;We have made quite clear to them Pakistani authorities we are concerned about some of their activities in terms of terrorism and we have them under continual review.quot;

She said that US had a quot;very importantquot; relationship with Pakistan but it has been quot;unfortunately interrupted by both the nuclear tests as well as by the action of General Pervez Musharrafquot; who ousted the democratically elected government of premier Nawaz Sharif in a military coup last October.Stating that tensions between India and Pakistan quot;have heightened as a result of the recent hijacking and the aftermath of last year8217;s Kargil crisisquot;, she said US will continue its efforts to ease quot;tensions in South Asiaquot;.

quot;We are committed to encouraging dialogue between India and Pakistan and intend to remain actively engaged in achieving this end,quot; Albright said.To a question by Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler whether President Bill Clinton will visit Pakistan during his South Asian tour, Albright said quot;there has been no decision made by the President to visit Pakistan or not. Obviously these are all aspects of our overall relationship.

quot;The President is going to India and Bangladesh, and no decision has been made on Pakistan,quot; she asserted.

Democratic Congressman Sam Gedjenson termed Clinton8217;s proposed visit to India a significant step in cementing a new relationship between the two sides after the cold war and said a visit to Pakistan at this juncture would be quot;a wrong signalquot;.

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quot;The military ruler in Pakistan is removing the court system, trying the elected premier. It a presidential visit to Pakistan would be a wrong signal to send.quot;

Wexler said the linkage between Pakistan and terrorist activity was quot;undeniablequot;, whether in the context of enabling terrorist activity or actually allowing it or encouraging it.quot;

Wexler also said that Pakistan should immediately end its support to terrorist organisations.

In a statement during his testimony at the International Relations Committee, he urged Albright to quot;take appropriate steps to pressure General Musharraf to immediately end all support for terrorist organisations and to set a strict time table for the return of democracy in Pakistan.quot;