Pakistan need to actively pursue terrorist organizations: US
Mark Toner addressed reporters during daily press briefing.
WASHINGTON (Web Desk) - US State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner has called on Pakistan to pursue actively terrorist organizations that are allegedly using its soil and territory to find refuge, asserting that they will continue to work with Islamabad and give provide necessary tools to confront the threat of terrorism.
"We’ve also said before that Pakistan is a country that unfortunately knows the effects of terrorism, the tragedy of terrorism. It’s suffered multiple terrorist attacks, mass casualty terrorist attacks, so it understands the stakes here. But we’re going to continue to work with the Pakistani authorities and a full-faith effort both to give them the tools they need and the capabilities they need to confront this threat," Toner stated during the daily press briefing.
He further said that the US will continue to share intelligence and other information with Pakistan, to point out where they believe that terrorists are finding safe haven.
Talking about the the airstrike last week in Balochistan which allegedly killed Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the spokesperson said that the U.S. considered the Haqqani Network to be an integral part of Taliban operations, and that the airstrike was crucial as Mansour was targeting U.S. as well as Afghan security personnel.
"Mansour represented an effort to rekindle the war, rekindle the conflict, re-stoke the violence in Afghanistan, and was not interested in pursuing peace. We believe that an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process is the way ultimately to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan," he said.
When asked if the Barack Obama government trusts Pakistan when it comes to war against terrorism, the spokesperson said that U.S. has always been clear with Islamabad regarding its terror policy and that operational security trumps a need to inform other governments prior to a mission.
When asked about contacts with Iranian officials on the matter, Toner said that there were reports that Mansour had ventured into Iran but it is all about the clarity on the matter.
"We’ve also seen reports he was carrying a fake Pakistani passport. Our major concern is that a major threat to our military on the ground in Afghanistan has been removed from the battlefield," he added.
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