The United States has decried focussing only on Pakistan in regard to terrorism, by pointing out that there were terrorist groups in all parts of the world. It also expressed its willingness to carry out joint projects with India in Afghanistan, but the foreign office here distanced itself from any such proposal.
Briefing journalists after returning from Kabul and Islamabad, U.S. Ambassador Timothy Roemer said that while Pakistan must do more to tackle terrorism, the focus should not be on that county alone, as there were other groups such as the Indian Mujahideen, which Indian intelligence agencies claim are operating all across the country.
“Let's not focus on one particular country — we have Indian Mujahideen, we have Headley in Chicago, we have Faisal Shahzad [alleged to have attempted a bombing in Times Square]. It is very clear that the U.S. has said to Pakistan that we want more...We see it doing. We expect more.”
“Whether we call a group Al-Qaeda, LeT [Lashkar-e-Taiba], JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammad] whatever the name, we have a serpent network of extremist groups targeting all of us — whether it is Pakistanis, whether it is Indians, whether it is Americans and we have to work together.” Mr. Roemer said the cooperation between the U.S. and India in the case of David Headley (prime accused in Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008) was “unprecedented,” with both sides having exchanged “reams of information” on the issue. India now needs to work out the exact timings and dates to get access to Headley, currently in U.S. custody.
Eyebrows raised
Eyebrows were raised in the External Affairs Ministry over Mr. Roemer's claim that in Kabul he assessed the possibility of joint India-U.S. projects in areas such as capacity building for civil servants. “As far as we know, the U.S. Ambassador to India was interested in the projects we had done. There is no such move to undertake joint projects,” clarified sources.
Asked about Pakistan's response on Afghanistan, Mr. Roemer said most of his interaction with its President and Foreign Minister fell in the zone of privileged diplomatic conversation. “Pakistan's response was thoughtful, considered and responsible in many ways. It showed they continued to think very clearly,” he added.
