A European think-tank has slammed Pakistan’s post-earthquake policy of allowing Islamist radicals to bolster their presence in the affected areas of the North West Frontier Province and Azad Kashmir, warning that the move could ultimately pose “threats to domestic and regional security”. According to an International Crisis Group policy briefing entitled “Pakistan: Political Impact of the Earthquake”, the fact that banned jihadi groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad are participating relief efforts either under new names or through front organisations, proves that their infrastructure remains in tact. “To rebuild trust, the Pakistan government must disband the networks of these and all other banned organisations,” asserted the policy briefing released on March 15 and obtained by Daily Times on Saturday.
“Should jihadi groups that have been active in relief work remain as involved in reconstruction, threats to domestic and regional security will increase,” the ICG warned. Although Pakistan’s decision to allow banned militant outfits to participate in earthquake relief efforts drew fierce criticism from the West, President Pervez Musharraf remained adamant that his government would not stop anyone from delivering relief to the victims.