Replying to a media query, Secretary Kerry said, it is well known that LeT and Haqqani network have operated from Pakistan and he had talked to Pakistan Prime Minister and the Army Chief to deprive any terrorist group of sanctuary. They must work with us to help clear sanctuary of bad actors, ” said Mr Kerry.
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“My hope is that Pakistan as a country is not isolated by this, but is encouraged by this”, Kerry said, referring to the planned US-India-Afghan talks that would be held at the annual United Nations meetings in NY.
“We can not and will not make distinctions between good and bad terrorists”.
Kerry also said he was hopeful of moving ahead on a deal to provide nuclear energy assistance to India, as the nations seek to meet an ambitious goal of boosting annual trade fivefold to around $500 billion. In particular, India is seeking justice for a 2008 terror attack in Mumbai that killed 172 people, and wounded more than 300. “Terror is terror”, said Kerry, reiterating America’s support to India’s demand that Pakistan punish the attackers involved in 26/11 and January’s terror strike on the Pathankot air force base.
“At a time when countries seek to address issues through the use of force, the USA and India have upheld the rule-based global order”, added Kerry.
“I briefed Secretary Kerry about the continuing problem of cross-border terrorism that India and the larger region faces from Pakistan”, she said.
They decided the details in Washington after reaching the agreement “in principle” in New Delhi in April, when they also agreed to strengthen their cooperation on maritime security. “Through Kerry, I would like to request the US Government to be careful while helping Pakistan so that it does not fall into bad hands”, Tyagi told ANI.
Kerry said the United States was working to address tensions in Afghanistan’s fragile coalition of President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
Kerry said these developments “couldn’t come at a more important moment”. “And the talks can only resume if these expectations were met”, she added.
“We have a long-standing policy of encouraging and advocating for great dialogue between the two countries on addressing areas of difference, and that continues to be our position”, a senior USA official said before the talks.
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Stating that both sides were developing more joint counter-terrorism exchanges, programmes, and initiatives to deepen the bilateral partnership, it said.
