US Terror Report Praises India's Counter-Terrorism Efforts, Sidesteps Pakistan's Role In J&K

The US Country Report on Terrorism 2023, released by the State Department, outlined terrorism-related challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, India's northeast, and parts of central India but notably refrained from addressing Pakistan's role in cross-border terrorism in J&K.

The report identified several terrorist groups active in India, including ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, Communist Party of India-Maoist, and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, while commending India's robust counter-terrorism efforts to disrupt and degrade these organisations.

Interestingly, the US report praised Pakistan for taking measures to curb terrorist financing and for conducting an updated National Risk Assessment, which addressed terrorism financing components. 

It also acknowledged Pakistan's actions to limit certain terrorist group activities, portraying Pakistan as a victim of increasing terrorist attacks in 2023, compared to 2022.

However, experts criticised the report, highlighting perceived US double standards, accusing it of advancing a pro-Pakistan narrative. 

The US gave a clean chit to Pakistan despite the latter's persistent efforts to spread cross-border terrorism and instead painted it as a victim of terrorism, an expert was cited in a Economic Times report.

The report also mentioned Pakistan’s challenges with money laundering and terrorist financing, noting that Islamabad continued to operate deradicalisation camps offering "corrective religious education," vocational training, and counselling.

Experts believe this approach risks undermining the global narrative on terrorism by overlooking Pakistan's historical role in supporting and sheltering terrorist groups.

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