WASHINGTON – The White House is demanding Pakistan crack down on Talibanelements and other groups that raise funds and take refuge in the borderareas with Afghanistan.

It believes that a Pakistani crackdown could be pivotal in deciding theoutcome of the war in Afghanistan — entering its 17th year — by weakeningthe Taliban militarily and forcing the organization to the negotiatingtable.

US officials believe that Pakistan s Inter-Services Intelligence agency andother military bodies have long helped fund and arm the Taliban forideological reasons, but also to counter rising Indian influence inAfghanistan.

Islamabad denies those allegations and has called Trump s decision tothreaten funding “counterproductive.”

Pakistan s foreign ministry issued a cautious statement in which it said itwas “engaged” with US officials and awaiting further details.

Without referring to the decision directly, it warned that “arbitrarydeadlines, unilateral pronouncements and shifting goalposts arecounterproductive in addressing common threats.”

The announcement ignited some small protests in Pakistan on Friday,including in Chaman, one of the two main crossings on the border withAfghanistan where several hundred people gathered to chant anti-US slogans.

US officials admit that Pakistan could make life difficult for Washingtonby closing land routes that are vital to supply US troops in Afghanistan.

But, the official said, it was “difficult but not impossible” to findother ways to get equipment in. – Agencies