US gets rough and tough with Pakistan

While giving this reality check to Islamabad, US officials also reiterated8211; as they have been doing throughout this week8211; that certain Pakistani agencies are in cahoots with terrorists. There was also a suggestion that Washington was more concerned about Islamabad8217;s nexus with the jehadists in Afghanistan than its backing for the militants in Kashmir, which was more in the nature of quot;general supportquot;.

At the state department briefing, spokesman James Rubin said the US had quot;very strong concernsquot; over quot;disturbing reports we have received about terrorismquot; particularly Pakistan8217;s nexus with Osama bin Laden.

Asked in this context about the ties between the Pakistani intelligence services and the Harkat ul-Mujaheddin, Rubin said quot;there have been some links with the Pakistani intelligence providing general support to a number of groups operating in Kashmir, including this one.quot;

Q: Is there more concern there than quot;generalquot; would suggest?
A: If the Secretary of State determined that a government has repeatedly provided support of international terrorism directly, then she would be prepared to designate that country as a state sponsor of terrorism. I hope that8217;s responsive to your question.

Q: This hasn8217;t reached that level?
A: We have not so designated.

Q: Is that a veiled threat?
A: No, that8217;s a comment about realities. And I was asked a specific question about it.

Rubin again said the US had reason to believe the hijackers of the Indian Airlines plane were affiliated with the Harkat ul-Mujaheddin which has been designated a foreign terrorist organisation in the US. Harkat8217;s activities quot;have received the highest possible condemnation from this government.quot;

Asked about speeches in Pakistan calling for a Holy War against India, Rubin said quot;that kind of incendiary rhetoric only harms the chances for all the people in the region to achieve their legitimate needs.quot;

The remarks on terrorism were preceded by a strong condemnation from the Clinton administration of Gen. Musharraf8217;s order forcing the Pakistani higher judiciary to take a new loyalty oath and sacking judges who did not. Rubin said the US quot;deploredquot; the order and described it as a quot;step backwardquot; in the move towards reestablishing a civilian democratic rule.

But so desperate is the administration to remain engaged and not let Pakistan spiral down the path of self-destruction that even in the face of the latest aggravation Rubin maintained that quot;because it8217;s a backward step does not mean that General Musharraf will not proceed down the path towards civilian democratic rule.quot; In this context, the US official kept a small window of hope for a Presidential stopover in Islamabad saying the administration was still weighing what was the best way for the US to advance its national interest 8211; by going to Pakitan or by avoiding it. He suggested that even if the President did stopover in Islamabad, it would be only in US national interest and quot;we are not conducting business as usual with Pakistan.quot;