(a) whether any pressure has been mounted on USA to declare Pakistan a terrorist state; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether any pressure has been mounted on USA to declare Pakistan a terrorist state; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)
(a) & (b) Government has been conveying to the US Government in all appropriate forums, including in the Indo-US Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, its assessment of Pakistan`s role in sponsoring, supporting, and abetting cross-border terrorism in India. Government is also aware that concerns on Pakistan`s links with terrorist organisations and its support for cross-border terrorism in India continue to be raised with the US Government, including by members of the US Congress and the US National Commission on Terrorism, which released its report in June 2000. In this context, the International Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives held a Hearing on 12th July on `Global Terrorism and South Asia`.
The US Government has stated that it has not made a legal determination with regard to Pakistan`s sponsorship of terrorism. The process remains under review. Government will continue to draw the attention of the international community, including that of the United States, to Pakistan`s sponsorship of and support to cross-border terrorism in India.