US wants Pakistan to act effectively against LeT

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 2 (PTI) US wants Pakistan to act
effectively against terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba
(LeT) and wants to do everything to encourage progress in
Indo-Pak relationship.
"We have been very direct, Secretary (of State, Hillary)
Clinton, has as well as other members of the Cabinet and the
(US) President himself about the importance we attach to
Pakistan following through in its own self- interest," the
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns,
said at a think-tank here.
"In fighting effectively against violent extremists, we
don't distinguish amongst terrorist or violent extremist
groups who operate out of Pakistan.
That means operating just as effectively against groups
like Lashkar-e-Taiba as well," he said.
"We want to do everything we can to encourage progress
and relations between Pakistan and India and we will continue,
as President Obama has made clear publicly, to offer that kind
of support," Burns said.
The State Department official said US is encouraged by
the announcement that the Pakistan and Indian foreign
secretaries are going to meet in June.
India's Home Minister P Chidambaram is travelling to
Pakistan for a regional meeting this month, and then in July
foreign ministers of both the countries are set to meet in
Islamabad, he said.
"So, I think all of that is encouraging.
The exchanges that Prime Minister Singh has had with the
Pakistani leadership have also been encouraging and I think
are a mark, as you suggested, of Prime Minister Singh's
willingness to take political risks in the interest of India,
and the interest of Pakistan as well," Burns said.
"From the perspective of the US, we want to do everything
we can to encourage that kind of a process, mindful of all the
sensitivities that are involved.
I think Prime Minister Singh has made clear the
importance that he and that India attaches to effective
Pakistani efforts against terrorists, against violent
extremists, particularly those who were responsible for the
attack in Mumbai in November of 2008," he noted.
"And Pakistanis have stated that they're going to pursue
the trial of the suspects in the Mumbai attacks rigorously.
I think it's very important for all of us -- not just the
US, but the rest of the international community -- to see that
happens and to see effective measures taken against violent
extremists who threaten not only India, but Pakistan's own
security," Burns argued.
After the Mumbai terrorist attack, Burns said there has
been a dramatic expansion of Indo-US law enforcement
counterterrorism cooperation.
"In practical terms, improving the sort of forensics
capacity, exchanging information in ways that didn't occur
before that. I think that has built greater confidence between
security agencies on both sides and certainly reflects the
very strong American commitment to fighting violent extremism
in that part of the world," he said.
"I think that also is a contribution to creating an
atmosphere in which hopefully India and Pakistan can also make
progress," Burns said. PTI LKJ
MRD