The Challenge of Terrorism: An Impediment in US-Pakistan Relations

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Abstract

The recently released 2019 United States State Department’s annual country report on terrorism has once again sparked tensions between America and Pakistan. Despite the recent appreciation and acknowledgment of Islamabad’s facilitation of the United States-Taliban peace talks, the State Department in its 2019 report slammed Pakistan for its continued support to certain regionally focussed terrorist groups. Much like what happened in 2018, the 2019 report claims that Pakistan provides support to militant groups within the country and accuses the state of “allowing groups targeting Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban and affiliated HQN [Haqqani network], as well as groups targeting India, including LeT [Lashkar-e-Taiba] and its affiliated front organisations, and JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammed], to operate from its territory.” (US. Department of State, 2020). It further indicates that the pledges and commitments made by the Pakistani government in its National Action Plan – including commitments to dismantle all terrorist organisations without delay and end discrimination - remain unfulfilled. The report’s assertions were not new – in fact, they were mostly in sync with concerns by successive American governments regarding the Pakistani State and its links to terrorism. President Trump had made remarks in its South Asia policy regarding Pakistan’s bluff and double game in the fight against terrorism. He expressed America's discontentment over “Pakistan’s harbouring of militants and terrorists who target U.S. service members and officials.” (The White House Press Release, 2017). The Trump administration had even suspended military aid to Pakistan in 2018, to push the state to undertake “consistent and irreversible” steps against terrorism (Syed, 2019). […]