WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said has said the United States has made it clear to Pakistan that its South Asia policy has not changed.
Pompeo made the comment as he welcomed long-delayed legislative elections in Afghanistan, saying the United States was ‘encouraged’ by voter turnout, despite reports of widespread problems including poll centers that failed to open or lacked voter rolls.
“Our expectation is that Pakistan will not provide safe harbour to terrorists on their western border,” Pompeo told reporters when asked about Islamabad’s role. “We couldn´t have made that message any clearer,” he said, adding: “Pakistan will be held to account if they don’t achieve that, if they’re not sincere in that effort.”
Noting that he “met with Pakistani leaders a few weeks ago”, Pompeo while referring to all stakeholders said, “Everyone wants reconciliation in Afghanistan and to achieve that, you can’t have a safe harbour for Taliban, for Haqqani and for others inside of Pakistan.” “Hope Pakistan achieves [the] goal we have set for them,” he stated.
