Pak army having close ties with LeT

A peace delegation from Pakistan suggested the military regime in that country might not yet be over yet and singled it out for maintaining close ties with terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

A peace delegation from Pakistan on Thursday suggested the military regime in that country might not yet be over yet and singled it out for maintaining close ties with terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

HT Image

The delegation also said the Obama administration in the US would need the Pakistan military's help to restore stability in Afghanistan.

The 23-member delegation comprising journalists, peace and human rights activists, legislators and scholars arrived here after crossing over the Indo-Pak border from Wagah yesterday.

Attending a round table conference here, the delegates referring to terrorism pointed out that the "monster that was created has outgrown its inventors".

"We are living in a jail. Our bureaus in the northern frontier regions are being shut down as they are constantly under physical vigil by the Pakistan troops," said Editor of Friday Times and Daily Times Jugnu Mohsin.

Citing that a number of politicians and human rights activists have been killed or threatened for their stance against the Pakistan military, delegates sought India's help in co-opting the military to the political will of Pakistan.

"The relation between the United States and Pakistan should also be in a political to political level, rather than on a political to military level," said Executive Director of South Asia Free Media Association Imtiaz Alam.

Pointing out that the civilian government is not in loop of many happenings, Chairperson of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Asma Jahangir said there is a need for making the Pakistan armed forces and its intelligence wing ISI answerable to the Pakistan parliament.