Pakistan's counter-terrorism steps important but not irreversible: US

Trump ministration is pressing Islamab to take "credible steps" to dismantle terror groups operating from its soil, a top US diplomat has said, describing Islamab's recent counter-terrorism mesaures like prosecution and conviction of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed as important but t irreversible.

Speaking at an Atlantic Council-organised virtual discussion, Alice Wells, outgoing Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, also said US encours practical steps that India and Pakistan can take to reduce bilateral tensions.

She said recent counter-terrorism steps being undertaken by Pakistan are important but t irreversible.

"I don't turn se steps irreversible, but y're important steps. Wher it's prosecution and conviction of (JuD chief) Hafiz Saeed, seizure of assets, certainly what we've seen on documentation, better documentation of ecomy and we need to keep that focus and work with our international partners,” Wells said at session held by Washington DC-based think tank on Wednesday.

Participating in discussion with Richard Verma, former US Ambassor to India, Wells also said that Trump ministration continues to encour practical steps for India and Pakistan to reduce tensions.

“We certainly support practical steps that India and Pakistan can take to reduce tensions such as restoring 2003 line of control ceasefire, while continuing of course to press Pakistan to take credible steps to dismantle terrorist groups,” she said.

Indian government led by late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee entered into a border ceasefire agreement with Pakistan along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on vember 26, 2003.

Indo-Pak hyphenation is w found only in history books, she said.

ting that US considers Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country of 200 million population, as an important partner, she said that Trump ministration is t blind to cross-cutting issue of terrorism.

" ministration has a very strong stance on terrorism. It’s principled approach towards combating n-state actors and presence of n-state actors has also been a boon in our broer global engment and certainly in our engment with India,” she said.

US has continuously asked Pakistan to end its support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence, and terror in region, to terrorist safe havens inside country.

Wells said that what really me it a warning shot across bow was international community's reaction to Pulwama terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohamm (JeM).

Pakistan was under intense global pressure to rein in terrorist outfits operating from its soil after Pulwama attack in February, 2019.

At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed and many injured in one of deliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a JeM suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into ir bus in Pulwama district.

“re was an escalatory period. It was quite concerning to everyone. But India did t come under criticism for its response. And it didn't come under criticism by principal allies or partners or friends of Pakistan because re was a deep concern over fact that a n-state actor was being allowed to, or was able to operate in a fashion that was destabilising to global security,” she said.

“So I do think that we are in a different period and we really welcomed se important steps that are being taken by Pakistan. I welcomed important statements that Prime Minister Khan has issued...Words are t actions, but those are important words,” Wells said.

Earlier, she told reporters during a conference call that suspension of security assistance by President Donald Trump in 2018 marked a fundamental change in country's approach towards Pakistan.

“ South Asia strategy me it clear that Pakistan needed to take decisive action against se groups, particularly those who support conflict in Afghanistan and threaten regional stability,” Wells said.

Since n, United States has seen constructive steps by Pakistan to encour Taliban to vance Afghan peace process, Wells said.

“Pakistan has also taken initial steps towards curtailing or terrorist groups that threatened region such as arresting and prosecuting (terrorists) and beginning to dismantle terrorist financing structures. As Pakistan's commitment to peace in region has grown, we're seeing initial growth in our relationships, particularly in tre,” she ded.