Tweet
New Delhi :Outgoing US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer on Wednesday said Pakistan must take action against Lashkar-e-Tayyeba and its founder Hafiz Saeed but asked India to understand that Islamabad is an important ally in its fight against terrorism.
Roemer also said Pakistan must do more in terms of progress and results in trial of Mumbai attack case in that country. The US envoy was interacting with media persons after meeting Home Minister P Chidambaram here.
“They (terrorists) killed scores of Indians (in 26/11 attack), they killed six Americans. It (Pakistan) must do more and making sure that people like (LeT operative Zaki-ur- Rehman) Lakhvi stay in prison. It must do more in terms of its overall approach to (terrorist) groups not only like Al Qaeda, but also LeT as a terrorist group with more regional and international reach,” said Roemer.
He said the US continues to put pressure on Pakistan to act against LeT and do more on its founder Saeed but it is a fact that Pakistan has “taken more injuries and more dust” to their forces while fighting the terrorists.
Terming as a “matter of concern” the fact that Osama bin Laden was found near Islamabad, Roemer said it would like to go to the bottom of this issue and also ensure that the aid given to Pakistan is used to target LeT along with Al Qaeda.
Describing Pakistan as an “important partner”, he said: “We will continue to work with Pakistan. It is very important for India to understand that US works with its counter-terror partners and with Pakistan. And that relationship is growing —the security partnership. It is based upon intelligence sharing, sharing on David Headley, sharing on day-to-day real time intelligence.”
However, he maintained Pakistan deserved some credit for fight in Afghan border against the Al Qaeda forces.
Roemer said the American Congress would be taking a “very hard look” and ask “tough” questions as to how Laden was living in Abottabad, north of Islamabad.
Roemer also said Pakistan must do more in terms of progress and results in trial of Mumbai attack case in that country. The US envoy was interacting with media persons after meeting Home Minister P Chidambaram here.
“They (terrorists) killed scores of Indians (in 26/11 attack), they killed six Americans. It (Pakistan) must do more and making sure that people like (LeT operative Zaki-ur- Rehman) Lakhvi stay in prison. It must do more in terms of its overall approach to (terrorist) groups not only like Al Qaeda, but also LeT as a terrorist group with more regional and international reach,” said Roemer.
He said the US continues to put pressure on Pakistan to act against LeT and do more on its founder Saeed but it is a fact that Pakistan has “taken more injuries and more dust” to their forces while fighting the terrorists.
Terming as a “matter of concern” the fact that Osama bin Laden was found near Islamabad, Roemer said it would like to go to the bottom of this issue and also ensure that the aid given to Pakistan is used to target LeT along with Al Qaeda.
Describing Pakistan as an “important partner”, he said: “We will continue to work with Pakistan. It is very important for India to understand that US works with its counter-terror partners and with Pakistan. And that relationship is growing —the security partnership. It is based upon intelligence sharing, sharing on David Headley, sharing on day-to-day real time intelligence.”
However, he maintained Pakistan deserved some credit for fight in Afghan border against the Al Qaeda forces.
Roemer said the American Congress would be taking a “very hard look” and ask “tough” questions as to how Laden was living in Abottabad, north of Islamabad.
