Kerry hold joint press conference with Sartaj Aziz
13 January, 2015
ISLAMABAD – The United States will enhance security and intelligence support with Pakistan in fighting terrorism, US State Secretary John Kerry said here on Tuesday 13,January,2015.
"We all have a responsibility to ensure that these extremists are no longer able to secure a foothold in this country or elsewhere,” Secretary Kerry said in a joint press conference with Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz, after conclusion of Pak-US Strategic Dialogue at the Foreign Office.
The two-day talks in Islamabad covered in-depth discussions with focus on entire spectrum of bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest including fight against terrorism. Kerry acknowledged that Pakistan's ongoing military operations in tribal areas over the last six months had significantly disrupted terrorist activities.
He announced an assistance package of $250 million for the rehabilitation of the displaced persons following the North Waziristan operation against militants. He said that the Pakistani government and the armed forces deserved credit for taking action against the sanctuaries of militants and emphasised an indiscriminate action against all militant groups including the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
He said the December 16th attack on Peshawar school and killing of children was a reminder that the Taliban had a disregard for human lives and they must be eliminated. "The tragedy of December 16 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. He said the horrific incident had clearly defined the option of a resolute and effective action against the threat posed by the militants.
Sartaj said that Pakistan had totally destroyed the infrastructure of Haqqani network and its ability to operate from across the border. He said the policy guideline of the National Plan of Action on terrorism was very clear focusing on taking to task all the militant groups without any discrimination.
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