Pak new transit point for terrorists, says US

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

WASHINGTON, FEB 17: The United States has for the first time said Pakistan has become a "transit point" for terrorists and it is reviewing "some of" Islamabad’s "activities in terms of terrorism".

"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," Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

Referring to Pakistan’s support to Afghanistan’s Taliban militia, which shelters international terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden, she said "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."

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She said that US had a "very important" relationship with Pakistan but it has been "unfortunately interrupted by both the nuclear tests as well as by the action of General (Pervez) Musharraf" who ousted the democratically elected government of premier Nawaz Sharif in a military coup last October.Stating that tensions between India and Pakistan "have heightened as a result of the recent hijacking and the aftermath of last year’s Kargil crisis", she said US will continue its efforts to ease "tensions in South Asia".

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

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

Democratic Congressman Sam Gedjenson termed Clinton’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 "a wrong signal".

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"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."

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

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 "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."