US criticises Islamic law deal in Pakistan

Islamabad: The Obama administration said Pakistan's imposition of Islamic law in a northwest valley to quell a Taliban insurgency undermines human rights, while a visiting US senator urged the country to "ratchet up" its urgency in the terror fight.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs' comments on Tuesday were the United States' most pointed criticisms of Pakistan's peace efforts in the Swat Valley to date. They came hours after a hard-line cleric who mediated the deal indicated it will protect militants accused of brutal killings in the one-time tourist haven from prosecution.

"The administration believes solutions involving security in Pakistan don't include less democracy and less human rights," Gibbs said. "The signing of that denoting strict Islamic law in the Swat Valley ... goes against both of those principles."

Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was visiting Pakistan this week ahead of a donors conference for the country in Tokyo. Kerry is spearheading a bill to increase US non-military aid to Pakistan, a multibillion dollar effort to strengthen sectors such as education to help lessen the allure of extremism in the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million.

The senator said the Pakistani government must make some "basic decisions," including where and how much of its army it will deploy against Al Qaida and Taliban fighters, who are primarily based along its northwest border with Afghanistan.

The army has tens of thousands of troops in the northwest, but has long devoted far more resources to its eastern border with longtime rival India.

"I don't think that the effort has been resourced the way that it needs to be either in the personnel or the strategy," Kerry said, adding later, "The government has to ratchet up the urgency."

In the scenic Swat Valley, 18 months of bloodshed prompted the provincial government in February to agree to impose Islamic law there and in surrounding areas to achieve peace. The Taliban agreed to a ceasefire.

The comments of America?s visiting senator are really astonishing that he doesn?t even know great human rights were imposed and implemented by Islamic rulers when America was not even discovered. I wish to refer him to the comments of archbishop, leader of the world's 80 million Anglicans, had suggested that Sharia, the Islamic legal code, should be introduced in Great Britain, at least parts of it. He said that religious judges should be allowed to make rulings on some civil matters and that British courts should recognise those decisions ? in cases dealing with marriage, divorce or disputes, for example.
Nagoor Meeran
Tirunelveli,India
Posted: April 15, 2009, 18:37

It would be very easy for Pakistan to exclude the US from "messing" with the internal affairs of the country. Just send back the BILLIONS of US dollars in aid and military equipment that Pakistan seems only to happy to receive. As soon as Pakistan is able to educate and feed their own people, as well as equip their own armies to quell the fundamental extremists, the US and the rest of the world would like nothing more than to leave Pakistan to run their own affairs. However the government, secular, Islamic or otherwise, has thus far proved itself not up to the task.
Yasser
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 17:50

I do understand all your emotions when it comes to the US or any other country interfering in Pakistan?s problems, but guys don?t forget the government of Pakistan is running behind them (US) for money to fight terror all the time. Billions have been given so far!!! Where is the result? The way things are going the world is not seeing anything improving in the country (Pakistan) instead its growing as a threat not only to its neighbours but to the world now. It?s about time someone starts clearing the mess that?s being made in the country.
P. T.
Bluche,Switzerland
Posted: April 15, 2009, 17:34

Strict Islamic law does not mean less human rights and less democracy. If implemented correctly, it is the best law for Pakistan. I believe the US is forgetting the fact that the motive behind Pakistan was an Islamic state and not a secular state. In short, the US should start minding their own business and not impose their war on Pakistan.
Mohammad Zeeshan Hussain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 13:31

I don?t understand why the US can?t manage its own business. Is it very hard? Please let the world mind its own business and focus on what they are supposed to do.
Saima
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 13:00

The Islamic Sharia Law as stated by hard-line clerics in Swat Valley of Pakistan is actually "unislamic", because its theory is based on killing human beings and hatred for the western countries including the US. Islam is a religion of tolerance and love. Since majority of militants have left the North Waziristan region due to the US and Pakistani troops shelling, the militants are trying to create another safe haven for themselves in the SWAT region. Closing music shops and destroying girls schools is not a part of an enlightened and modern Pakistan that we would like our future generations to see.
Aqeel Contractor
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 12:55

Just a message for the US. "Stop Messing our Problems" let us decide what we want.
Mohammad Saqib
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 12:54

Apart from the US interfering, I think this whole peace deal with the Taliban is not right. I don't mind the Sharia Law but Taliban will enforce it? I don't trust Taliban, especially the way they have brutally murdered so many people. They are not to be trusted.
Wanda
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 12:50

The US should not get involved in any country's internal affairs. Let them handle it.
Nayyar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 12:34

What do the Americans want?? They themselves attack a place or get it attacked by Pakistani forces, when there is retaliation they cry of militancy and when peace is attained they shout for human rights. Muslims think that Islam has the best human rights if it is imposed practically n fully. (I don?t know how much real is the Taliban's Islam, only God knows.) If Americans do not believe this then we are supposed to make them happy?
Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 11:50

it is high time that USA stops interfering in Pakistan's political matters. Most of the political turmoil and violence in Pakistan is a result of failed US policies. USA should focus on solving their own problems first.
Farhan Javed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 15, 2009, 10:36