ISLAMABAD: Pakistan The government said Sunday it was fed up with charges that it sponsors international terrorism and issued a Sweeping invitation to its critics to visit Pakistan to seek evidence for their accusations.

Foreign Minister Mohammed Saddique Kanju also said an antiterrorist organization had been formed to ferret out foreign militants receiving military training or arms in Pakistan.

“We are willing to take all necessary steps in order to dispel any impression of Pakistan’s complicity in terrorism,” he said at a news conference.

Last month, the United States gave Pakistan six months to prove it had no links to terrorists, particularly those waging bloody secessionist uprisings in India’s only predominantly Muslim state. Jammu Kashmir, and in its Sikh dominated state, Punjab.

Countries declared to be sponsors of terrorism are barred from receiving U.S. aid, buying U.S. made weapons and obtaining U.S, support from international lending institutions. Trade benefits also are withdrawn.

Pakistan also has been accused by Algeria and some other Arab States of harboring radical Muslim fundamentalists linked to rebellions at home.

Kanju said Pakistan’s detractors could freely visit Pakistani Kashmir to search for signs of militants being trained and armed.

He said critics also could go to the lawless tribal zones bordering Afghanistan that became an arms bazaar during the Muslim rebellion that ousted a Soviet installed regime in Afghanistan.

Since the Clinton administration issued its deadline, a Pakistani man living in the United States has been accused of killing two CIA employees outside the agency’s headquarters in McLean, Va. returned to his hometown in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, but fled before an international manhunt was launched, He is still at large.

Pakistan said hundreds of Arab militants fought alongside the Muslim insurgents during the 14year war.

“They weren’t invited by us, they came in on their own,” Kanju said.

He said Pakistan was trying to get rid of the foreign militants, and he pledged to help find any alleged militant who might be hiding in Pakistan.

Last month, Pakistan revoked hundreds of visas issued to Arab nationals, many of them associated with the Afghan rebels.

Kanju strongly denied Pakistan’s government is helping Muslim secessionists in Indian Kashmir.

Article extracted from this publication >>    March 26, 1993