Pakistan: banned groups reappearing

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi acknowledged on Thursday that banned militant groups had reappeared in the country under “different cloaks” but said a democratic government had to walk “a fine balance” in dealing with them.
Mr. Qureshi said it was difficult for the government to stop “peaceful” public meetings and rallies by such groups as it could bring into question its democratic credentials.
In recent weeks and months, banned organisations such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba have resurfaced. As recently as last week, LeT founder Hafiz Saeed addressed in Karachi a public rally of the Jamat-ud-dawa, the still-legal front organisation of the LeT, advising the government that “this was not the time for friendship with India, but the time to take revenge for the Kashmir people.”Plea turned down
The News reported on Thursday that Mr. Saeed had even applied to the government for permission to import a bullet-proof vehicle. The application has been turned down.
The Foreign Minister, responding to questions at a press conference why the government was allowing these groups to operate freely, said Pakistan had “no sympathy” for them, and they were “destroying the image” of the country world-wide.
“At times these organisations, they wear a different cloak while making political statements and holding political processions, and if you check those processions, your democratic credentials are questioned [as to] why under a democratic set up, under a democratic dispensation, people are not allowed to make a peaceful protest. It is a very difficult balance we have to keep.” India’s concern
India has expressed concern at the resurgence of banned organisations in Pakistan, and wants an assurance that the new government in Islamabad will rein them in. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while underlining the involvement of home-grown terrorists in last week’s Delhi blasts, also spoke about a continuing role by Pakistan-based militant groups.
Mr. Qureshi appealed to India to avoid making such allegations.
“We have to be very careful and we have to avoid the blame game. Pakistan has shown utmost restraint, and our reactions have been very measured. It is easy to up the ante with statements and counter-statements. That’s what we have been doing for years. It’s the easiest thing to do, and it vitiates the atmosphere. But we now want to move in a positive direction,” he said. “We have to give up the concept of one-upmanship.”
Resolving the Siachen and Sir Creek disagreements, and increasing trade and people-to-people contacts, he said, would present a “win-win” situation for both countries.Zardari-Manmohan meeting
The Minister said he was expecting a “productive meeting” between President Asif Ali Zardari and Dr. Singh on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week.
Angry over the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, New Delhi has yet to agree on a calendar of meetings for the fifth round of the composite dialogue, the Secretary-level talks on eight subjects.
“The meeting in New York, I agree is important because we have to continue to pursue the peace process,” he said, adding that there would be “hiccups” but both sides had to remain “steadfast”.Focus on trade
Dismissing suggestions that the peace process had come to a standstill, he pointed to scheduled talks next Monday between India and Pakistan on Kashmir-related confidence building measures, with focus on launching the cross-Line of Control trade between the two sides of Kashmir.
“That I would not call a stalling of the peace process,” he said