Health Ministry launches World Health Survey 2025 Survey to collect accurate health status database of Saudi population    Dr. Al-Rabeeah at UK House of Lords: Saudi Arabia provides $134 billion in aid to 172 countries in 30 years    Saudi Arabia receives first Hajj 2025 pilgrims from multiple countries    3rd phase of Vision 2030 to focus on sustaining transformation and capitalizing on emerging growth opportunities    Housing minister expects moderate real estate prices in Riyadh    Travel mayhem in Spain and Portugal as power outage grounds flights, paralyzes train networks    Saudi Arabia at ICJ: Israel turns Gaza Strip into a pile of rubble    SR200,000 reward for each player of the Saudi club winning AFC Champions League title    William and Kate celebrate anniversary on Isle of Mull    Hope and fear as tourists trickle back to Kashmir town after attack    Israel spy chief to step down after row with Netanyahu exposes deepening rifts    Localization in Saudi military industries rises to 19.35%    Logistics park for vehicles worth SR300 million to be set up at Dammam port    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Al-Falih: Eastern Province hosts 700 investment opportunities worth SR330 billion    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



US weighs terror label for Pak-based network
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 09 - 2012

AVARUA, Cook Islands — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday she will meet an obligation to decide in the coming days whether the Pakistan-linked Haqqani network should be considered terrorists.
US lawmakers have pressed Clinton to blacklist the group, which is blamed for grisly attacks in Afghanistan, but some US officials have warned such a step could dramatically set back already fraught ties with Pakistan.
Clinton, visiting the Cook Islands for a Pacific island summit, said that she would abide by legislation by Congress that requires her to state by Sept. 9 whether the Haqqani network met the criteria of a terrorist group.
“I'm aware that I have an obligation to report to Congress. Of course we will meet that commitment,” Clinton told a joint news conference with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.
Clinton declined comment on which way she is leaning but said that the United States was already “putting steady pressure” on the Haqqani network.
“That is part of what our military does every single day along with our ISAF partners,” she said, referring to the NATO-led force in Afghanistan.
“We are drying up their resources, we are targetting their military and intelligence personnel, we are pressing the Pakistanis to step up their own efforts,” she said.
Before stepping down as the top US military officer last year, Admiral Mike Mullen said that the Haqqani network had become a “veritable arm” of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency.
The State Department has designated certain members of the Haqqani network as terrorists but has resisted blacklisting the entire group.
The US has slowly been rebuilding cooperation with Pakistan, which was severely set back after US forces found and killed Osama Bin Laden living last year near the military's main academy.
The Senate and House of Representatives in resolutions have both urged the State Department to blacklist the group, which would make it a crime in the United States to provide any financial or other support to the Haqqani network.
Technically, however, Clinton is only asked to declare whether the Haqqani network meets the criteria of a terrorist group and is not being forced to make an actual decision on the designation.
US officials have linked the Haqqani network to some of the most sensational attacks in Afghanistan including a June assault on a hotel near Kabul that killed 18 people and a siege last year of the US embassy. The network has also been blamed for a series of well-coordinated, commando-style raids on Kabul targeting foreign embassies, NATO bases and government buildings. — Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.