The United States has told Pakistan that it must change its approach towards terror groups operating from its soil and take a "decisive action" against them, days after the BRICS grouping for the first time named Pakistan-based terrorist groups like the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad in its declaration.
The BRICS Summit in their joint declaration three days ago named the LeT and the JeM among the internationally banned outfits operating from within Pakistan and called for action against them.
"As the administration has said, Pakistan must change its approach," a State Department spokesperson said in response to a question on the BRICS statement that said the Pakistan-based LeT and JeM among the terror groups that create problems in the region.
"We look to the Pakistan government to take decisive action against militant groups based in Pakistan that are a threat to the region," the spokesperson said.
Pakistan has denied allegations it harbours these groups.
The BRICS declaration in the Chinese city Xiamen was significant given that China previously repeatedly stonewalled any reference to Pakistan or terrorist groups based there.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has told a news channel that BRICS concerns about the militant groups should not be considered as China's official stance.
