Print Print edition: 2017-02-23

US to work with Pakistan against terrorist networks

Published February 23, 2017 Updated February 23, 2017 12:00am

The US forces in Afghanistan have worked closely with Afghan force to strike terrorist groups involved in the fresh spate of terrorism in Pakistan and will continue joint cooperation to dismantle terror networks, said United States ambassador to Pakistan David Hale.
According to a statement issued by US Embassy here, Ambassador Hale met with Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Wednesday and condemned the recent horrific terrorist attacks across Pakistan and offered condolences to the families of the victims. "The ambassador emphasised that US forces in Afghanistan have worked closely with their Afghan counterparts to strike the groups who have claimed responsibility for the attacks in Pakistan," it stated, adding that the United States will continue to work in partnership with Pakistan to dismantle terrorist networks.
However, it was not mentioned as to when the action was taken against the terror outfits involved in the fresh terrorist attacks, responsibility for majority of the attacks was claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, splinter group of outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) believed to be based in Afghanistan.
Pakistani military on February 17 summoned Afghan Embassy officials to the GHQ and handed over a list of 76 most wanted terrorists based in Afghanistan and asked the Afghan government to hand them over to the country by arresting or taking action against them. It was followed by a telephonic call by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa to the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) Commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson. The COAS expressed his concerns over continued acts of terrorism in Pakistan with impunity from Afghanistan.
During his conversation with the top US commander in Afghanistan, the ISPR stated that the Army Chief said that most of the incidents in Pakistan are claimed by terrorist organisations with leadership hiding in Afghanistan and asked the Commander RSM to play his role in disconnecting this planning, direction, co-ordination and financial support.