A few “rogue” terrorists could be trying to provoke “a warlike situation” between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, according to Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States.
Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan told the United States Institute of Peace Monday that a rush to blame his government for recent terrorist attacks launched against India from Pakistan creates the possibility of a “miscalculation that could seriously endanger peace and security.” He disputed the perception – derived in part from al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden’s years of hiding in Pakistan – that the leaders in Islamabad are giving terrorists a free reign to harm a rival.
“There is always a true story underneath the bluster, underneath the layers of misinformation,” Khan said, touting Pakistani counter-terrorism operations. “There is no organized presence of any terrorist group in Pakistan. I can say that with responsibility.”
U.S. officials dispute that claim. The Trump administration suspended $255 million in aid to Pakistan last year, saying the government “continue[s] to harbor and support terrorism.” And last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed “the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil” as tensions rose over a raid carried out by the Indian Air Force against a terrorist group that had claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian police officers in February.
Khan, who faulted the United States last week for contributing to tensions by failing to rebuke India for the airstrike, argued that the scrutiny on Pakistan helps justify Indian retaliation and thus heightens the risk of a major conflict.
“You are essentially giving the entire situation hostage to one, two, or a couple of individuals who may be rogue elements acting on their own trying to basically create a warlike situation,” he said.
Khan noted that the two sides have “returned from the brink, at least for now,” following Pakistan’s handover of an Indian Air Force pilot who was captured after his plane was downed during the raid.
“The potential risks associated with further military action by either side are unacceptably high for both countries, their neighbors, and the international community,” an official with the White House National Security Council told the Washington Examiner last week.
