Last week, the State Department Report released its report on various countries' performances in fighting terrorism around the globe. As far as catching terrorists and keeping them in custody, the USG calls Pakistan's performance "uneven."

In fact, the policy more closely resembles "catch and release," as exemplified by what happened with London Planes Plot mastermind Rashid Rauf. 

Pakistani security services cooperated with the United States and other nations to fight terrorism within Pakistan and abroad. Hundreds of suspected AQ operatives have been killed or captured by Pakistani authorities since September 2001.

Close cooperation between Pakistani, British, and American law enforcement agencies exposed the August 2006 London-Heathrow bomb plot, leading to the arrest in Pakistan of Rashid Rauf and other alleged conspirators connected to the case. On December 15, 2007, Rashid Rauf escaped from police custody in Rawalpindi and remained at large. Two of the police officers guarding him were arrested and questioned. 

I wrote about this here.  

The UK trial of the rest of the cell — charged with plotting to blow up as many as eighteen airliners –  goes on.

To read: U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2007 (html format). 

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