He said the United States had made it clear to Islamabad that it needs to act against groups such as the Taliban-linked Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) that are suspected of operating from Pakistan to launch attacks against its neighbours India and Afghanistan.
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His announcement that the USA will not make any distinction between good and bad terrorism highlights what Prime Minister Narendra Modi had echoed in nearly all the global platforms wherever he spoke since his Government assumed office.
US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to India on Tuesday for attending the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue assumes critical significance as he strongly endorsed India’s persistent efforts to clamp down on terror originating from Pakistani soil. “They must work with us to help clear sanctuaries of bad actors who are affecting not only India- Pakistan relationship but also our ability to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan”, Mr Kerry said.
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 U.S. interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets. Kerry further added that the brunt of terrorism is being faced even by Pakistan itself which has suffered greatly with more than 50,000 people being killed. “All of us need to be supportive.of how hard it is”. “Reflecting shared objectives in combating the threat from terrorists accessing and using nuclear and other radiological materials, the Sides reaffirmed commitments made at the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC”.
“I believe in the last months, progress is being made and the Pakistanis are moving at a greater pace”.
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US State Department spokesperson John Kirby on Wednesday said in his daily press briefing here on Wednesday that Kerry’s official schedule for the next couple of days was “still forming up” citing logistical reasons.
