Two United States lawmakers, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism Ted Poe and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher moved a bill in Congress seeking designation of Pakistan as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ on Wednesday.
The bill titled the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act move at a time when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is in the US to address the United Nations General Assembly.
Congressman Poe termed Pakistan an “untrustworthy ally” which he alleged “has also aided and abetted enemies of the US for years”.
“From harbouring Osama bin Laden to its cosy relationship with the Haqqani network, there is more than enough evidence to determine whose side Pakistan is on in the War on Terror. And it’s not America’s,” Poe said.
“It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism,” the lawmaker said.
He added that US President Barack Obama must issue a report within 90 days of passage of the bill detailing whether or not Pakistan has provided support for ‘international terrorism’.
“Thirty days after that, the Secretary of State must issue a follow-up report containing either a determination that Pakistan is state sponsor of terrorism or a detailed justification as to why Pakistan does not meet the legal criteria for designation,” he said.
