White House again asks Pakistan to do more

WASHINGTON: The United States has told Pakistan that it 'must do more' against militant groups that threaten regional peace, and attack international forces in Afghanistan.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, the White House confirmed that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Vice President Mike Pence where the two leaders discussed the US administration's South Asia strategy.

The statement said that the vice president reiterated President Trump's request that the government of Pakistan "must do more to address the continued presence of the Taliban, Haqqani Network, and other terrorist groups operating in their country."

Prime Minister Abbasi was on a four-day private trip to the US to visit his ailing sister. He took out time to see the administration officials but was handed down more threats and warnings. During the half hour meeting, the vice president reemphasised the need for action to counter cross-border attacks.

The US alleges that Pakistan provides sanctuaries to terrorist groups that help them arm and plan attacks across the border. In the last three months, administration officials have voiced that time was running out for Pakistan and the US could take unilateral action in case of no cooperation from Islamabad. "Pakistan is yet to take the kind of decisive actions that the US is seeking," a high-level administration official told media this week.

The White House statement said that Pence repeated the request for further cooperation. "The vice president stated that the US efforts to eliminate terrorist groups who threaten US security and stability of the region will continue and noted that Pakistan could and should work closer with the United States," the release said. The prime minister has concluded his visit and would be heading back to Islamabad. He is scheduled to stop briefly in London.