Pakistan's terrorism stance shows no paradigm shift
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Significance
The JuD has also begun a media campaign to publicise its charity work, such as running a free ambulance service in Karachi. The JuD's public profile brings into focus recent media reports and official pronouncements that Islamabad has commenced the process to ban twelve militant organisations, including the JuD and the cross-border Haqqani network. The (as yet unconfirmed) ban is a response to increased domestic and international pressure on Pakistani authorities to contain militants operating within the country and its immediate neighbourhood.
Impacts
- China would welcome, and probably reward, a more cooperative role by Pakistan in ensuring Afghanistan's stability.
- Pakistani action against India-focused terrorists is impossible as long as the bilateral peace process is frozen.
- The risk of terrorist attacks against Pakistan's urban centres and minorities has not reduced markedly.