Running out of patience on double standards by Pakistan in combating terrorism, top US lawmakers on Wednesday called for cutting financial aid and imposing sanctions against it while prominent think tanks said it is time to consider putting Pakistan on the list of state sponsor of terrorism.
“Patience (on Pakistan) is growing very thin,” Congressman Matt Salmon, Chairman of the Asia and Pacific subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said.
Just cutting off the funding is not going to be enough, he said and sought for additional measures.
“Those who suggest giving aid to Pakistan need to give justification for using the tax payer’s money,” Congressman Brad Sherman, Ranking member of the subcommittee joined Salmon and other lawmakers for actions against Pakistan.
Congressman William Keating, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Trade argued that there is little reason to believe that Pakistan is going to change its policies of using terrorism as a tool to meet its strategic needs.
Two of the top al Qaeda leaders have been killed in Pakistan, he said. Keating that the US arms supply to Pakistan is unlikely to help it in the fight against terrorism, but would arm it to be used against India.
Meanwhile, former top diplomats and think tanks said it is time that US consider putting Pakistan on the list of state sponsor of terrorism.
“Pakistan now is a state sponsor of terrorism. There is no question that ISI supports the Haqqani network, which we regard as a terrorist network,” said Zalmay Khalilzad, a former top American diplomat of the Bush Administration, who played a key role America’s policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan and Iraq after 9/11, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.
“It is also clear that the Pakistani military and intelligence provide sanctuary and support to the Taliban,” Khalilzad said and described in detail the duplicity of the Pakistani leadership.