WASHINGTON – The US has expressed concern over terrorist groups continuingto enjoy safe haven in Pakistan and is asking the country to do moreagainst “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.

“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 terrorist groups,” Wells told reporterson Monday.

She was asked whether the US has seen any progress in its demand thatPakistan takes 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.

Wells said the US looks forward to working with the new government ofPakistan and “we welcome the words of Prime Minister Imran Khan when hediscussed the importance of having peace on both sides of Pakistan’sborders.”

Responding to questions on Afghanistan and the security situation in theregion, she said Pakistan “obviously” has a critical role to play in thestabilization of Afghanistan. “We have encouraged Pakistan to take strongersteps to ensure that the Taliban either come to the negotiating table orexpelled back into Afghanistan rather than enjoy safe haven outside of thecountry.”

She noted that Pakistan and Afghanistan have embarked over the last severalmonths on an effort to improve the bilateral relationship with thenegotiation of a solidarity document which the US strongly supports.

“At a time when President Ashraf Ghani has been so forward leaning inputting forward a peace proposal that the international community hasrallied around, at a time when the Afghan people are calling for peace?thisis the time for all parties to come to the negotiating table and we verymuch look to Pakistan to reinforce that message,? she said.