WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday renewed calls onPakistan to curb extremists fighting in Afghanistan, saying Washington washolding its uneasy war partner accountable.
Pompeo made the comment as he welcomed long-delayed legislative electionsin Afghanistan, saying the United States was “encouraged” by voter turnout,despite reports of widespread problems including poll centers that failedto open or lacked voter rolls.
“Our expectation is that Pakistan will not provide safe harbor toterrorists on their western border,” Pompeo told reporters when asked aboutIslamabad s role.
“We couldn t have made that message any more clear,” he said, adding:”Pakistan will be held to account if they don t achieve that, if they renot sincere in that effort.”
“Everyone wants a reconciliation in Afghanistan and to achieve that, youcan t have a safe harbor for Taliban, for Haqqani and for others inside ofPakistan,” he said, listing extremist movements fighting in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump s administration last month cut $300 million inmilitary aid to Pakistan after years of US complaints that Islamabad haskept nurturing ties with militants that target both Afghanistan and rivalIndia.
Pakistan has countered that it has paid a heavy price internally forfighting militants and that it can help bring the Taliban to the table.
A Taliban delegation earlier this month met in Qatar with a US envoy.Pakistan s new Prime Minister Imran Khan is a longstanding supporter ofnegotiations to end the war in Afghanistan, where the United States hasbeen deployed since 2001. – APP/AFP