WASHINGTON: In a blunt message, the US today told Pakistan it cannot “pick and choose” the terrorist groups it goes after and has to target militants who seek to harm its neighbors by taking refuge on its territory.
The US also rejected 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s remarks that America and India have joined hands against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the recent US-India defense logistics agreement is anti-Muslim.
“… I would dismiss it (Saeed’s comments) outright,” Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said in his daily press briefing.
“…we made it very clear that Pakistan can’t pick and choose which terrorist groups it goes after and it has to go after those groups that seek to do harm to its neighbors and may seek refuge on Pakistani soil,” he said.
Toner said the US has a strong bilateral relationship with Pakistan, “but one that is premised on counterterrorism cooperation and as part of that conversation, or that dialogue and that cooperation that we have on counterterrorism issues.”
The US earlier said it is in constant “conversation” with the Pakistani leadership on the threats posed by terror organizations like the Haqqani network and LeT operating in the region.
The dreaded Haqqani network, which is blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people, has also carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets.
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had refused to give the necessary Congressional certification to Pakistan and had blocked military aid worth USD 300 million to Islamabad for not taking sufficient action against the Haqqani network. –PTI
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