The Trump administration has communicated to Pakistan that it must take “decisive” action against terrorist groups and dismantle their safe havens on its soil, a State Department official on Friday said as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson wrapped up his maiden South Asia visit.
“We have communicated our expectations to Pakistan numerous times that they must take decisive action against terrorist groups based within their own borders,” State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told PTI, a day after Tillerson concluded his maiden trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
At a news conference in Geneva, his last stop on the current foreign travel, Mr. Tillerson said the U.S. had “a very healthy exchange of information on terrorists, which is what we really hope to achieve with Pakistan.”
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif in a meeting on Thursday with National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs said that Pakistan will neither surrender to the US nor compromise on its sovereignty.
Mr. Asif claimed that no specific “wish list” has been given to Pakistan by the US.
The US has given a list of 75 wanted terrorists and pressed Islamabad for going tough on Haqqani network.
Responding to a question on Mr. Asif’s comments, the State Department spokesperson said that Tillerson on his trip has put the US’ “expectations” in front of the leadership of Pakistan.
The spokesperson said that Mr. Tillerson during his visit to Pakistan told its leadership that America wants to work with Pakistan in a “positive way” because it is also in Islamabad’s interest in long-term.
