His remarks came as India upped the ante on the issue of “terror export” from Pakistan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising it at the BRICS meet and East Asia Summit, where he called on the global community to isolate and sanction “this” instigator.
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“It is imperative for the future of Asia, and indeed the world, that the two nations approach each other with strategic maturity”.
Pakistan and the United States enjoy strong relationship and the two countries are working closely on many issues, including counterterrorism, a US State Department Spokesman said. Addressing media here, Jaishankar without referring to Pakistan directly said, “It is not only the state actors and the non-state actors, at some stage the differentiation is not borne out on the crowd”.
India on Friday said the Government of Pakistan can not escape from the responsibility of curbing terrorism emanating from the territory under its control. Pakistan has hit back, accusing India of being that “one country”.
Jaishnakar’s remarks were part of his speech titled “India’s Diplomatic Initiatives” at the 2016 International Media Conference organized by the U.S. government-funded East-West Centre.
Toner added that Pakistani authorities continued to assure their intentions to take stronger steps against terrorists. “I don’t believe they’re at their lowest level”. Combating terrorism is one such area and sanctioning of well-known terrorist leaders and organisations should not emerge as an issue of difference.
Responding to a question about US’s role as mediator between Pakistan and India, Toner in a press briefing on Thursday said: “We strongly encourage in all of our dealings with either India and/or Pakistan, stronger relations between the two countries”. The recent strategic alliance of the USA with India is a cause of concern to Pakistan.
As Pakistan intensified interaction with the OIC by spotlighting the Kashmir issue, Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar travelled in August to terrorism-affected countries like Syria, Iraq and Lebanon to engage them in dialogue with India.
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The January 2 terror attack on the Pathankot air base in India, which New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed militants, also led to souring of relations.
