US calls on Pakistan to go after Afghan-Taliban leadership

For help in catching Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Chief Mullah Fazlullah

The United States (US) has urged Pakistan to go after the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan and asked for help in catching Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Mullah Fazlullah.

According to Dawn, Fazlullah fled to Afghanistan in November 2007, when security forces captured his headquarters in Swat.

Reports state that he is based in Afghanistan's Kunar province from where he directs TTP attacks in Pakistan.

"We continue to cooperate closely with Afghanistan, certainly, but also urge Pakistan to go after terrorists, especially (Afghan) Taliban leadership, and that cooperation continues," said US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner when asked what efforts were being made to locate Fazlullah.

The statement by the State Department also indicates that the US wants Pakistan also to act against the Afghan Taliban leaders who are allegedly hiding inside its territory, in return for US help in targeting TTP leaders in Afghanistan.