Please read in continuation of TheOmens From The White House
Names can be changed faster than clothes -- and we are kidding ourselves if we think that Musharraf would do anything but pretend to act against the LeT and the JeM.
Please read in continuation of TheOmens From The White House
Possibly in response to strong expressions of unhappiness by the Govt. ofIndia over the statement read out by President George Bush on December20, 2001, describing the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) of Pakistan as an extremistgroup based in Kashmir which has been indulging in terrorism against India aswell as Pakistan, the office of the White House Press Secretary made partialamends through a statement on behalf of the President the next day whichsaid as follows:
"Yesterday, at a ceremony marking the 100th day since the September 11 terrorist attacks, I detailed actions the United States Government has taken in response to terrorist attacks here and abroad.
"At the same time, I announced that the U.S. Government had blocked the assets of two more terrorist organizations:
"- Umma Tameer-e-Nau (UTN), an organization that claimed to feed the hungry and needy of Afghanistan but that in fact provided information about nuclear weapons to al-Qaida; and
"- Lashkar-e-Taiba, a stateless sponsor of terrorism that has conducted operations against Indian troops and civilian targets.
"I also condemned the terrorist attacks against the Indian Parliament and the Kashmir Legislature and extended condolences to the Indian Government and the families of the victims.
"These attacks were meant to strike at India's democracy and kill its leaders, but were also intended to undermine Pakistan, harm the rapidly improving U.S.-Pakistan relationship, and to destabilize the global coalition against terrorism.
"I have strongly condemned the attacks. I call upon President Musharraf to take decisive action against Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and other terrorist organizations, their leaders, finances, and activities.
"President Musharraf has condemned the terrorist attacks on the Legislature in Srinagar and on the Indian Parliament. He has said that he would move against those involved in the attacks. As President Musharraf does so, he will have our full support."
Independently, a spokesman of the State Department was reported to havestated as follows:
"We do know these groups have committed terrorist acts and they intend to sabotage efforts at an India-Pakistan reconciliation and to undermine Gen. Musharraf. We know these groups have bases in Pakistan and how they operate."
While thus trying to make partial amends for the initial statement ofDecember 20, which blatantly tried to reflect the Pakistani projection of the LeTas an organisation based in Kashmir with no presence in Pakistan and callingupon the military junta to take action against them and their leaders, the WhiteHouse and the State Department have persisted with their attempts to exoneratePakistan's junta of any responsibility for their acts of terrorism.
From the Indian perspective, the revised formulations have the followingobjectionable and worrisome features:
The Bush Administration seems to have convinced itself that it is in the USnational interest for the army to continue in power in Pakistan with Musharrafat the helm. It would not push Musharraf beyond a certain point to actagainst India-centric terrorist organisations lest these organisations threatenhis continuance in power.
(The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. ofIndia, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai)