The US State Department, in the reports on Terrorism, on Wednesday, said Pakistan remained a “safe harbor” for regionally-focused terrorist groups.
According to details, US state department, in its Congressional-mandated 2019 Country Reports said that Pakistan still remains a safe haven for regional terrorist groups and that the suspension of US aid to the country remained in effect throughout 2019.
Furthermore, the report stated that Pakistan took “modest steps” in 2019 to counter terror financing and restrain India-focused militant groups from conducting large-scale attacks following the Pulwama attack in February, but it remained a “safe harbor” for regionally focused terrorist groups, such as, Indian-focused Jaish-e-Mohammed and Haqqani Network of Afghanistan.
‘Pakistan did not take action against Jaish-e-Mohammed founder and UN-designated terrorist Azhar and 2008 Mumbai attack ”project manager” Sajid Mir, both of whom are believed to remain free in Pakistan,’ report read.
After the US report, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, responding to a question during his daily press briefing, said while he will not comment on the report issued by the US State Department, “Obviously, as a matter of principle, we do expect all member states to live up to their obligations as laid out in any relevant Security Council resolution or Security Council decision.”
The UN 1267 Sanctions Committee designated Azhar as a global terrorist in May last year, slapping an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on him. Following the designation, the US State Department said that the designation is an “important step” in promoting a peaceful and stable South Asia.