US urges Pakistan to act against Taliban in Punjab

[sonicboom]

US urges Pakistan to act against Taliban in Punjab

Friday, April 02, 2010
By Sami Abraham

WASHINGTON: US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake has said that Pakistan has made significant progress in the war on terror but strong action against various Taliban groups in the Punjab still needs to be taken.

Talking to journalists here at the Foreign Press Centre after his recent visit to India and Pakistan, Robert Blake said he had asked the Pakistani authorities to take this action, because it was in the interest of Pakistan. “But it is up to Pakistan’s security forces to decide when and what to do,” he added.

Responding to a question Mr Blake said that United States would not intervene to mediate dialogue between the two countries on the issues of Kashmir and water until both the countries ask the US to do it. “However, US would help Pakistan in building water storage capacity and also make water use more efficient,” he added.

He said it was also wrong to presume that India and Pakistan could not progress on Kashmir issue unless some international players were not included in the process. He said in 2004 both the countries made significant progress in talks on all the issues including Kashmir.

Mr Blake said if Pakistan felt that India was not fulfilling its obligations on the water issue, Pakistan should take its case to Independent Arbitration Commission set up under Indus Basin Water Treaty.

Mr Blake said during his discussion with Pakistani authorities he did not ask Islamabad to handover Hafiz Saeed to India. However, he pressed Pakistani authorities to continue legal proceedings against those who were involved in Mumbai attacks because it would help building confidence between India, Pakistan and United States as well.

To another question about Taliban reconciliation process he said it was up to the Afghan government to do that and forthcoming jirga would be an important step in this regard. When asked whether he discussed Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project with Indians and Pakistanis he said, “Our stand is very clear since Iran has failed to fulfill its international obligations as it is not an appropriate time to get involved in such transactions.” He said that he called upon Pakistanis to concentrate on developing other means of energy.

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