ISI continues to maintain links with LeT, JuD: CIA

7 Jun 2009, 1216 hrs IST, PTI

WASHINGTON: Observing that the ISI continues to maintain links with terror outfits like the LeT and JuD, a former top CIA official says the US
needs to be tough with the Pakistani establishment and send a clear message to it that it cannot pursue a policy of "selective counter-terrorism."

Pointing out that the ISI today is in a "mortal battle" with the Pakistani Taliban in the restive Swat valley, Bruce Riedel, who co-chaired the inter-agency committee of the Obama administration which formulated the Af-Pak policy, said Islamabad has been pursuing "selective counter-terrorism" measures.

"In the Swat Valley, the Pakistani army and the ISI are fighting a very serious struggle against a part of the jihadist infrastructure. ISI has also been helpful in fighting part of the al-Qaida infrastructure.

"But the complexity, the problem is that ISI continues to have relations with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, with whatever its new name is and with the Afghan Taliban. It is a very complex picture. It's selective counter-terrorism. What we need is uniform counter-terrorism," Riedel said.

On the release of JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed from the house arrest in Pakistan, he said the Obama administration should take "a very hard line" about the release of the mastermind of the Mumbai massacre."