*Washington – *The US has expressed concern over terrorist groupscontinuing to enjoy safe haven in Pakistan and is asking the country to domore against “externally oriented” extremist outfits, a top official in theTrump administration said.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells at the same time welcomedPakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks on the importance of havingpeace on both sides of the country’s borders.[image: File image of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Alice Wells.Reuters]

“Pakistan has an important role to play in furthering stability inAfghanistan. We have expressed our concern over the fact that terroristproxy groups continue to be able to enjoy safe haven in Pakistan. We areurging the government to do more to bring pressure to bear against theseorganisations, externally oriented terrorists groups,” Wells told reportersyesterday.

She was asked whether the US has seen any progress in its demand thatPakistan take action against terror groups like the Haqqani network andTaliban.

Wells was addressing a Foreign Press Centre video conference fromWashington on ‘US Policy in the Indian Ocean Region’ during which shepreviewed her upcoming travel to the Indian Ocean Conference hosted by theIndia Foundation in Hanoi on August 27-28.