Terror screws tighten on Pakistan: US Congressman Ted Poe threatens to halt aid until Haqqani Network is prosecuted

India's continued efforts to isolate Pakistan at the world stage seem to be bearing fruit, with influential US Congressman turning the screws on its ally in the war against terrorism. Poe, who sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, has said Pakistan "does not deserve a single dollar of American taxpayer money" if it does nothing to dismantle the Haqqani Network. 

Poe made the remarks in a statement following the passage of the National Defense Authorisation Act in the US House of Representatives on Monday. Among the clauses passed as part of the act were "additional conditions on foreign aid to Pakistan," directly linked to the country's actions on terrorists and terrorism on its soil. 

India has managed to corner Pakistan on the issue of terrorism at several global platforms. Most recently, Russia assured India that their bilateral ties were not more important than those between Russia and Pakistan.

Also, at the Heart of Asia Conference held recently, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani snubbed Pakistan's offer of aid, saying: "We thank Pakistan for their pledges of $500 million assistance for reconstruction of Afghanistan. I hope you use it to fight terrorists and extremists in Pakistan... No amount of money can assist us if there is support to terrorists by Pakistan."

Poe's poser to Pakistan

Now, the latest front on which Pakistan has been snubbed is the US, with Poe saying in his statement: "The Haqqani Network has killed more Americans in Afghanistan than any other terrorist group, but the government of Pakistan has done little to go after it, despite taking some $33 billion of United States' money since 9/11."

The Texan added: "My bipartisan amendment limits foreign aid to Pakistan until the Administration certifies that Pakistan has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting Haqqani Network senior leaders and mid-level operatives. If Pakistan is not willing to publicly arrest and prosecute members of the Haqqani Network instead of actively supporting them, then it does not deserve a single dollar of American taxpayer money."

Poe, it may be noted, has strong views on Pakistan, and was one of the introducers of a bill that would declare Pakistan a terrorist state.