US, Pakistan to intensify fight against terror

Islamabad: The US and Pakistan vowed on Tuesday to intensify a crackdown on militants hiding in lawless border areas as US Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington would “do whatever it can” to encourage resumption of dialogue between Islamabad and India.

He was speaking at a joint news conference with the Pakistani prime minister’s adviser on foreign affairs and national security, Sartaj Aziz, after the conclusion of bilateral talks.

Kerry appreciated the ongoing operation by Pakistani security forces against militants, including the Haqqani network in North Waziristan tribal region, but cautioned that more work needs to be done.

He said the US “is committed to deepening security partnership with Pakistan” in order to eliminate militancy from the region.

Islamabad began a full-scale offensive against the Taliban and other militants in the North Waziristan tribal district in June, after ignoring US calls for action for years.

Kerry said Pakistan deserved “enormous credit” for the operation.

“I emphasised that the US is committed to deepening our security relationship with Pakistan in order to eliminate threats in the border area and elsewhere,” the US Secretary of State told reporters.

Kerry said militant groups including the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Tayba and Taliban “are a threat to Pakistan, US and other countries of the world.”

“I welcome the strong consensus forged by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan’s leaders about the importance of combating all terrorists and terror groups,” Kerry said.

Kerry said that the reality has never been clearer than on December 16, when militants slaughtered over 140 students and teachers at a school at Peshwar in northwest Pakistan.

The tragedy “is really a reminder of the serious risk of allowing extremists to find space, and be able to command that space and operate within it,” Kerry said.

“The brutal murder of your children was felt by every parent and citizen in the United States. No one needed a reminder of Taliban’s disregard for human life and for freedom,” he said.

“Just as we stand with the people of France in its difficult hour, America will continue to stand with the people of Pakistan as they build a future that is free from the threat of violent extremism,” Kerry said.

Kerry also announced that $250 million (Dh918 million) in previously appropriated money will be given to emergency relief efforts in the tribal areas, mainly North Waziristan.

Kerry said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif deserved a lot of credit for his leadership in reaching out to his neighbours to develop peace and understanding.

“I can’t emphasise enough that it is profoundly in the interest of Pakistan and India to move their relationship forward,” he added.

“This is the hardest time to work; it means you have to put a lot of time and effort into overcoming historical mistrust, past events and enmities that come from that history.

“We have to create a pact for sustainable peace through dialogue. We applaud the efforts to do so, we encourage both Pakistan and India to re-engage and the United States will do whatever it can to try to help in that effort,” Kerry said.

Earlier, Sartaj Aziz said India’s cancellation of foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan last year and recent incidents of “unprovoked firing” by Indian troops along the border “are a source of serious concern to Pakistan.”

“We hope, therefore, that US as an influential member of the international community can prevail upon India to work with Pakistan towards regional peace and economic prosperity,” Aziz said.

Kerry later met senior Pakistani military commanders at their headquarters in Rawalpindi to discuss joint military efforts and plans for greater intelligence-sharing.

The US has carried out a series of drone strikes in the tribal regions since Islamabad resumed its own offensive there, raising speculation that the two nations’ militaries are working together on Pakistani soil.

Pakistani officials however have denounced the drone attacks as a violation of sovereignty.

Kerry had planned to visit Peshawar where the massacre took place, but the State Department later issued a statement saying weather concerns forced him to cancel the trip and he later departed for Geneva.