Rex Tillerson at his confirmation hearing January 2017, Photo: Office of the President-elect/Wikimedia Commons
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said the United States wants to work positively with Pakistan but the South Asian country must not allow terrorist safe havens within its territory.
The top American diplomat also indicated in remarks at a Washington think tank that the U.S. is willing to share information with Pakistan for it to act against terrorists.
“We want to work with Pakistan to stamp out terrorism within their boundaries as well, but Pakistan has to begin the process of changing its relationship with the Haqqani Network and with others,” Tillerson said.
He was renewing U.S. position on the need for Pakistan to move against the Afghan Taliban allegedly operating from its territory.
Washington says the Haqqani militants have a sanctuary in Pakistan and fuel Afghan insurgency. Islamabad denies the charge, and says it has nothing to gain from instability in Afghanistan.
Tillerson, who was explaining President Donald Trump’s policy toward South Asia, said if terrorists are not defeated Pakistani could lose control of its territory
“I understand that this is a relationship that has emerged probably for, in their view, good reasons a decade ago, but now that relationship has to be altered because they – if they’re not careful, Pakistan is going to lose control of their own country,” Tillerson said.
The U.S., he said, will be willing to share information with Islamabad for a successful prosecution of the fight against terror.
“We want to work with them in a positive way. We’re willing to share information with them and we want them to be successful. But we cannot continue with the status quo, where terrorist organizations are allowed to find safe haven inside of Pakistan.”
