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India-Pakistan
US Congress pushes for terrorist label for Haqqani network
2012-07-28
WASHINGTON: United Nations Congress ratcheted up the pressure on the Obama administration to slap terrorist label on the Haqqani network, the terrorist group responsible for plotting and launching attacks from Pakistan against US-led forces in Afghanistan.

By voice vote, the Senate approved a bill on Thursday that would require the secretary of state to report to the Congress on whether the Haqqani network meets the criteria to be designated a foreign terrorist organisation and if not, explain why.
She'll be at least as forthcoming as Eric Holder...
The report is due within 30 days of the president signing the measure. The bill now goes to Obama. The administration has sanctioned top individuals of the Haqqani network, but it is still reviewing whether to label the entire organization terrorist. That delay has frustrated members of the Congress.
Wonder why...
Rep Mike Rogers, Republican chairman of the Intelligence Committee, had added an amendment to the bill, saying that it was the sense of the Congress that the Haqqani network meets the definition of a terrorist organisation and it should be designated as one.

The US State Department has defended its effort, citing its sanctions of the networkÂ’s top individuals.
If you're citing the 'top individuals' you'd think it wouldn't be much of a stretch to sanction the organization as a whole.
The Haqqani network, largely operating in eastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan, is affiliated with both the Taliban and al Qaeda. The US officials say it represents one of the biggest threats to AfghanistanÂ’s stability because it is believed to use Pakistan as a rear base for attacks on American and coalition troops in Afghanistan.

In May, the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence committees wrote to Clinton asking her to act immediately in labelling the Haqqani network a terrorist group.

The four leaders said that based on meetings with the US and Afghan officials in Afghanistan, “It was clear that the Haqqani network continues to launch sensational and indiscriminate attacks against US interests in Afghanistan and the group poses a continuing threat to innocent men, women and children in the region.”

The four noted that it had been six months since the State Department had undertaken its "final formal review" of the Haqqani network.

"The Haqqanis have continued to attack US troops and the US Embassy in Kabul during that period," the lawmakers said.
Posted by:Steve White

#2  Just some history here .. didn't the USA have a hand in setting up that network while fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan? I guess the problem is - once you put something together, it's hard to disassemble it.
Posted by: Raider   2012-07-28 15:07  

#1  Does it really make a difference? Last I checked The Taliban weren't even designated a foreign terrorist organisation. They say it's about negotiations and sich. Things us non-diplomats wouldn't understand.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2012-07-28 09:39  

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