Won't dignify an avowed terrorist's remark: US on Saeed

The United States has refused to respond to Jamaat-ul-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed’s remarks on its ties with Pakistan, and said that they would dignify comments made by an avowed terrorist.

Addressing a daily press briefing, John Kirby, spokesperson of the US Department of State said, “I’m not going to dignify the comments of an avowed terrorist one way or the other.”

”And we continue to work with Pakistan and continue to urge Pakistan to take steps to shut down access to areas inside their borders to terrorists, to terrorist individuals and to terrorist groups,” Kirby added.

Kirby’s remark comes a day after Saeed had reportedly said that the United States is the real enemy of Pakistan.

Calling the US Pakistan’s enemy, Saeed has reportedly said it is time Pakistan shifted its focus from the US to building a relationship with India.

He also said that despite US declaring a bounty on his head, Washington DC could not achieve anything for the last five years.

When asked about whether the US State Department had any concrete information on the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Kirby responded, “I don’t. I would refer you to the Pakistani authorities on that. Obviously, as I’ve said before, we continue to want to see the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack brought to justice.”