Pakistan’s Action On Terrorist Groups Against India Incomplete

Pakistan’s action on terrorist groups against India incomplete: US future defense minister Lloyd Austin.

Lloyd Austin, who has been named as the US Defense Minister, has said that Pakistan’s actions against anti-India terrorist groups are ‘incomplete’ and will pressurize Pakistan to stop sheltering them.

In a written reply to the questions of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he said, “If I become the Minister of Defense, I will pressurize Pakistan to prevent her territory from being sheltered for terrorists and violent extremist organizations.”

Austin needs US Senate approval to become defense minister. He gave written answers to questions from the committee before its hearing earlier this week.

On Thursday, the Senate and House of Representatives voted to exempt him from US law, which prohibits retired military officers from becoming ministers of defense for seven years after their retirement. Austin retired in 2016.

Pakistan’s action on terrorist groups against India incomplete: In 2018, the US banned all economic and military aid, accusing Pakistan of non-cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

On the question asked by the committee, he said that Pakistan has also taken steps against anti-Indian terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), but this is not enough.

He said that apart from a ban on security assistance, several factors could affect Pakistan’s cooperation. This includes tensions following the Afghanistan talks and the Pulwama terrorist attack.

Significantly, after the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019, tensions in India and Pakistan had increased significantly.

Jaish claimed responsibility for it. 40 Indian soldiers were killed in this attack. After this, India entered Pakistan and did an airstrike at the terrorist bases in Balakot.

The committee then questioned that what is the US’s option to stop Pakistan from sheltering ‘terrorists and violent extremist organizations’?

He said that he will dominate the country, but it has to be noted that Pakistan is a sovereign nation. Building ties with Pakistan’s military will provide the US and Pakistan with an openness to cooperate on key issues.