Petition on UK govt website to declare Pakistan 'terror supporting state' gains traction

Pakistan continues to double speak on issue of terrorism. It has aided and abetted enemies of the international coalition, of which Britain is a leading partner with the US, against terrorism. This is said in a petition moved on the website of UK Government and Parliament published under the heading 'UK govt to strongly condemn Pakistan for providing safe haven for terrorists'.

"Pakistan continues to double speak on issue of terrorism. It has aided and abetted enemies of the international coalition, of which Britain is a leading partner with the US, against terrorism. Osama Bin Laden's hide out was in Pakistan. Pakistan continues to harbour UN-sanctioned terror networks," it noted.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has often been accused of playing a role in major terrorist attacks across the world, including the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, terrorism in Kashmir, Indian Parliament attack and Mumbai terror attacks, said the petition, adding that it has been noted by many that several militant and criminal groups are backed by senior officers in the Pakistani army and the country's ISI intelligence establishment.

Daniel Byman, professor at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service in the Security Studies Programme and Department of Government, says "Pakistan is probably today's most active sponsor of terrorism."

The petitioner wants the UK Parliament to hold a discussion on the issue, for which the petition required 100,000 signatures. By the time this report was filed, the petition was signed by 1,896 people. The deadline of the petition is six months i.e. March 29, 2017.