“Pakistan remains a sanctuary and training ground for terrorists,” said a report by Lee Hamiliton, vice-chairman of the 9/11 Public Disclosure Project.
WASHINGTON: Pakistan continues to be a sanctuary and training ground for terrorists, a report on the status of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission on terror attacks in the US has said, asking Washington to put pressure on the government of Pervez Musharraf to stop the menace in his country as also in Kashmir.
“Pakistan remains a sanctuary and training ground for terrorists,” said a report by Lee Hamiliton, vice-chairman of the 9/11 Public Disclosure Project, which examined action taken by US Administration on the recommendations of the Commission that probed the September 11, 2001, attacks on US.
“Musharraf has made significant efforts to take on the threat from extremism... yet we are disappointed that he has not done more,” said the former Congressman, pointing out that the Pakistani General has not lived up to his promises to regulate the madrassas or religious seminaries properly.
“Taliban forces still pass freely across Pakistan-Afghanistan border and operate in Pakistani tribal areas. Terrorists from Pakistan carry out operations in Kashmir. Finally the results of promised democratisation efforts are yet to be seen,” he said in the report.
The US must pressure Pakistan to seal its borders, disrupt the insurgents’ efforts, both in Pakistan and Kashmir, and shut down Taliban-linked religious schools and training camps, the report said. Full cooperation in the search for Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who is believed to be hiding in the region, also is lacking, it added.
Noting that the US relief effort after the October 8 earthquake in Pakistan “gives us an opening”, Hamilton said, “We should press hard in support of pragmatic economic and political reform.”
He pointed out that “a politically and economically stable Pakistan that is committed to the Amerian war efforts against terror is critical to US counter-terrorism efforts.”
“This cannot happen unless Pakistan is wholly committed to practical reforms,” Hamilton said. The Hamilton assessment has been that American assistance to Pakistan would mean nothing unless there is a commitment on the part of Washington to help Islamabad achieve practical political and economic record.
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