ISLAMABAD: The annual US State Department report on terrorism released on Thursday presented a mixed assessment of the Pakistani government’s counterterrorism efforts, saying while it had taken steps against some militant groups within Pakistan, others continued to operate from the country and attack other nations.

The US Bureau of Counterterrorism submit its Country Reports on Terrorism 2020 in compliance with Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f, which requires the Department of State to provide to Congress a full and complete annual report on terrorism for those countries and groups meeting the criteria of the Act.

The Pakistan government or foreign office have not yet reacted to the US document.

“Pakistan took steps in 2020 to counter terror financing and to restrain India-focused militant groups,” the report said, praising Pakistan for its “continued support” to the Afghan peace process. 

But the report added that “Pakistan made limited progress on the most difficult aspects of its 2015 National Action Plan to counter terrorism, specifically in its pledge to dismantle all terrorist organizations without delay or discrimination.”

While in February and again in November 2020, a Lahore antiterrorism court convicted Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed on multiple counts of terror financing and sentenced him to five years and six months in prison, the report said, “Pakistan did not, however, take steps under its domestic authorities to prosecute other terrorist leaders residing in Pakistan, such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)  founder Masood Azhar and LeT’s Sajid Mir, mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.”

The report also mentioned the Sindh High Court overturning the 2002 convictions of Omar Sheikh and three coconspirators for the 2002 kidnapping and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl. 

However, the report acknowledged progress on a Financial Action Task Force action plan.

“At the October FATF plenary, FATF member states acknowledged Pakistan had largely addressed 21 of its 27 action plan items and partially addressed the remaining,” the report said. “FATF member states agreed to keep Pakistan on the FATF gray list through FATF’s 2021 plenary.”