UNITED NATIONS: A senior United Nations official has said that Pakistan has “satisfactorily complied” with the UN’s sanctions on terrorist groups.
Richard Barrett, Coordinator of the Security Council established al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Monitoring Committee, told a foreign news channel that it was difficult to implement the sanctions completely, but the UN has found all Pakistani agencies were cooperative.
The committee has the task of monitoring sanctions imposed by the Security Council on individuals and organisations declared as terrorist.
“I found in all my dealings with officials in Pakistan, whether it’s the government, elected officials, ministries or the intelligence services or the Army, and we deal with all of those bodies I found very good atmosphere of cooperation between them as well as with us,” Barrett was quoted as saying.
“It is very difficult for a state to implement that (sanctions) completely, but yes in a way Pakistani government is working to ensure fruitful compliance,” he said.
Barrett indicated that the cooperation was across the board, covering civil and military agencies and ministries. Barrett is expected to visit Islamabad soon to make an assessment of Pakistan’s actions so far and what more needed to be done.
The official had earlier said the Security Council has the power to take action against nations if they were found to be not taking action against individuals and organizations branded as terrorists.
The Pakistan Government acting after the United Nations declared the Jamaat-ud-Dawa a terrorist group and a front for Lashkar‑e‑Taiba has shuttered all of its offices, arrested scores of activists and put its entire leadership under house arrest.
India blames the Lashkar for the terrorist attacks on Mumbai last month that killed more than 200 people.
Pakistan has complied with UN sanctions: UN
The world got the message loud and clear after Mullen’s visit. But, will India pay heed too?
I think Pakistan has done the right thing by treading along delicate diplomacy and a show of defiance to Mullen that Pakistan will respond in kind w/in a few minutes if India should resort to any violation of Pakistani airspace (again!). Interpol and UN sound like an echo of the same sentiment “Pakistan did what it was supposed to do”.
Now the ball lies in India’s court to provide solid proof and “assist” Pakistan in furthering interrogation of the those detained, so it can be determined if they indeed did have a link to Mumbai incident. Or it may find itself victim of American interests because Americans would not like to see the supplies going through Pakistan halted should a situation break out on the eastern front that requires more attention, not to mention the pull out of troop leaving US and NATO at the mercy of those they despise the most.
Do the right thing India, the sympathy rubberband has been stretched too long and may snap if you don’t back it up with something solid and believable.
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