WASHINGTON – US Vice President Mike Pence has told Pakistan’s PrimeMinister Shahid Khaqani Abbasi that his country “must do more” againstTaliban and other terror groups, the White House said today.

Pence said this to Abbasi, who was on a personal trip this week to see hisailing sister. They met at the Naval Observatory residence of Pence onFriday. The meeting was held at the request of Abbasi.

“Vice President Pence reiterated President Trump’s request that theGovernment of Pakistan must do more to address the continued presence ofthe Taliban, Haqqani Network, and other terrorist groups operating in theircountry,” the White House said in a statement of the meeting.

“The Vice President stated that US efforts to eliminate terrorist groupswho threaten US security and the stability of the region will continue andnoted that Pakistan could and should work closer with the US,” the WhiteHouse said.

According to the Dawn newspaper, which reported first reported about themeeting, Pence told the Pakistani Prime Minister that the TrumpAdministration could take unilateral actions if there was no satisfactorycounter-terrorism action from Pakistan.

During the 30-minute meeting, Pence also emphasised the need for immediateaction from Pakistan to stop cross-border attacks, the Dawn reported.