The U.S. is waiting to see the practical steps taken by Pakistan over the next weeks and months in its war against terrorism, a top diplomat has said, asserting that the Trump Administration is moving quickly on its own strategy to fight against terror groups.
The Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice G. Wells, who was part of the U.S. delegation that accompanied Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, told reporters in a briefing that it is all about Pakistan’s strategic choice.
Ms. Wells asserted that the Taliban leadership and the Haqqani Network continue to reside with their families in Pakistan. “What we saw in 2014 was we saw Pakistan make a strategic decision to defeat the terrorist groups that were targeting the government of Pakistan... We’d like to see the same strategic commitment brought against other militant groups, whether that are operating or have used Pakistan’s territory, whether they are directed against India or directed against Afghanistan,” she said. Also, six Senators urged Mr. Tillerson to designate Pakistan as a “country of particular concern” on the issue of religious freedom violation, saying its discriminatory laws continue to result in prosecution of individuals due to their faith.
Senators Bob Menendez, Marco Rubio, Chris Coons, Todd Young, Jeff Merkley and James Lankford wrote a letter to Mr. Tillerson ahead of the November 13 deadline before which the State Department needs to notify Congress on its country of particular concern (CPC) designations.
