 | « Back to article | Print this article |
The US on Thursday maintained its pressure on Pakistan to "do more" to deal with terrorism, but said the focus should not only be on that country as there were other groups, including Indian Mujahideen.
"Let's not focus on one particular country -- we have Indian Mujahideen, we have Headley in Chicago, we have Faisal Shahjad (the suspected Times Square bomber), who may have been trained in Pakistan...," US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer told reporters "It is very clear that the US has said to Pakistan that we want more...We see it doing. We expect more. Secretary (of State) (Hillary) Clinton has said...," he said but downplayed the reports that Shahzad was trained in Pakistan. "Wherever he is trained....," Roemer said adding, the allegations that he is trained in Pakistan, if proven true, will not be particularly new.
He was asked why his country is reluctant to accept that Pakistan was providing ideal environment to the terrorists. Roemer said, "Whether we call a group Al Qaeda, LeT, JeM whatever the name, we have serpent network of extremist group targeting all of us -- whether it is Pakistanis, whether it is Indians, whether it is Americans and we have to work together...".
Terming present-day terrorism as a "worldwide threat which can strike anywhere," Roemer said focus should not be only on one country or one training ground.
The US Ambassador also termed as "unprecedented" the cooperation between the US and India in the case of American- Pakistani terrorist David Headley, saying that "I am very proud both of the efforts and success" which has opened the doors for Indian government to have direct access to him.
"We have made great progress....The action government of India needs to take to work out the exact timings and dates... This symbolises the cooperation which is unprecedented."
On the death sentence to Ajmal Kasab for the Mumbai attacks, Roemer said the US respects the Indian judicial system, its process and its judgment and was in favour of resolute justice.