A US state department report has acknowledged that Pakistan has not taken action against LeT as the terror group continues to “operate, train, rally, propagandise and fundraise” in the country and India remains one of the most persistent terror target. As against this, India deepened counter-terrorism cooperation with the US, highlighted by the September 30 summit between US president Obama and prime minister Modi when both sides pledged greater cooperation in countering terrorist networks and information sharing. Though only a small number of Indian nationals are believed to have joined the Islamic State, the government closely monitored the domestic threat it and other terrorist organisations posed, the report said.
This is not the first time the US has acknowledged that while Pakistan remains a safe haven for terrorists, India is in the forefront of the fight against global terror. Unfortunately, the US treats both Pakistan and India on the basis of parity. Its policies should reflect ground realities and instead of putting money into Pakistan—diverted to promote cross-border terrorism—it should use its economic clout to force Pakistan to mend ways.
From the time when Washington turned a blind eye to Islamabad’s clandestine nuclear programme so that it could enlist Pakistan’s help in the fight against communism, the US has invariably put short-term considerations above the need to check threats to regional and even global peace. Today, terrorism has taken the place of communism as America’s bugbear, but only where its own interests are concerned. To deceive the Americans, Pakistan occasionally carries out raids against certain terrorist groups, mainly in the north-west of the country or when the Tehreek-e-Taliban, which is the Pakistani version of the Taliban, targets the Pakistan establishment. But, where the LeT or the other specifically anti-Indian groups are concerned, there is little doubt that the Pakistani army and the ISI extend undercover support. Only the US has the financial leverage to compel Pakistan to change its Machiavellian stance. But, the Americans appear reluctant to annoy its old, cold war ally.
