US Congman opposes terrorist tag for Pak

WASHINGTON, FEB 3: An influential US Congressman Douglas Bereuter has warned the Clinton administration against branding Pakistan a terrorist state, saying it will severely threaten America’s national interest and India’s own security.

"There is currently a move by some friends of India to legislate the placement of Pakistan on the State Department terrorist countries list… placing it on this list would mean that we have totally cut off Pakistan, that we thereby, effectively, no longer seek to influence the course of events in Pakistan," Bereuter noted. "I cannot believe that such a move is appropriate or in the US national interest certainly not on the basis of the information available and verified," Bereuter, who is also chairman of Asia Pacific sub-committee, said while delivering a speech yesterday.

"Our policy," said Bereuter, "should be to prevent Pakistan from becoming a true rogue state. If Pakistan goes the way of Afghanistan adopting a Taliban-style leadership the US national interestwould be severely threatened, as would India’s security." "The United States continues to wield considerable influence in Islamabad."