Pakistan should dismantle safe havens for terrorists, reiterate India and US

India and the United States of America (USA) on 30 August reaffirmed the "urgent necessity" for Pakistan to "dismantle safe havens for terrorists and criminal networks" including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and the D-Company.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD), along with her US counterpart John Kerry, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "Secretary Kerry and I also agreed on the need for Pakistan to do more to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice quickly."

Divulging detail of their dialogue, Swaraj said, "Secretary Kerry and I discussed at length the issue of terrorism, which is the key challenge to the international community, and the foremost threat to international peace and security. I am happy to note that there was a 'meeting of minds' on this issue."

Stating that she briefed Secretary Kerry on the continuing problem of cross-border terrorism that India and the larger region faces from Pakistan, Swaraj said, "We both agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorisation of good and bad terrorists, nor must they act as sanctuaries and safe havens for terrorist organisations."

"I thanked Secretary Kerry for the U.S. constant support for India's membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). This interaction has strengthened the US-India relationship, and I hope it contributes to the world at large," she added.

Earlier delivering opening remarks at the Opening Plenary during the Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD), Swaraj said there is scope to do a lot more and this would be an important element of their deliberations.

-ANI