The State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism 2017 is a treasure trove of U.S. positions, statistics, and public statements on the current state of terrorism, and in its report on Pakistan, it states that “the Pakistani government pledged support to political reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban but did not restrict the Afghan Taliban and HQN from operating in Pakistan-based safe havens and threatening U.S. and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.” The Trump administration and Trump himself have vocally criticized Pakistani practices and, in August, they paused new Foreign Military Financing for the country until it addressed U.S. concerns. The report states that the Pakistani government did not, however, “adequately address these concerns in 2017,” and that it “failed to significantly limit LeT and JeM from openly raising money, recruiting and training” in the country. The State Department and Trump Administration must now balance continued Pakistani needs for support in what actions they are taking against extremist networks with their inactivity in key areas and on key fronts.
Source: Pakistan continues to harbor Taliban, including al Qaeda-linked Haqqanis | FDD’s Long War Journal
