Take 'sustained, irreversible action' against terror outfits, US tells Pakistan

The US has again asked Pakistan to take "sustained, irreversible action" against terrorist groups that are operating from its soil, deny them "safe haven" and block their entry to funds, according to a top State Department official.

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino's remarks came on Thursday after Islamabad launched earlier this week a crackdown on terrorist groups amid mounting pressure from the international community following the Kashmir suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF troopers and was claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Pakistan on Thursday said that as part of its continuing operation against Islamist groups and their leaders, 121 people were taken into preventive detention and 182 madrasas were seized.

The Pakistan government earlier arrested the brother and son of JeM chief Masood Azhar along with 42 others affiliated with the banned terror outfits. It also seized properties belonging to Hafiz Saeed's proscribed Jamaat-ud-Dawa and its charity arm Falah-e-Insaniyat.

The US State Department official told the media: "The US notes these steps and we continue to urge Pakistan to take sustained, irreversible action against terrorist groups that will prevent future attacks and that will promote regional stability.

"And we reiterate our call for Pakistan to abide by its UN Security Council obligations to deny terrorists safe haven and block their entry to funds."

The spokesperson didn't give a direct answer on the move in New York to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, but said the US and its allies in the UNSC "would continue to work with the sanctions committee to ensure that the UN list of terrorist organisations and leaders was updated and accurate.

"Our views on Masood Azhar and the JeM are well-known. The JeM is a UN-designated terrorist group that has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a threat to regional stability. Masood Azhar is the founder and leader of the JeM.

"We will continue to work with the sanctions committee to ensure that the list (of terrorist organisations and leaders) is updated and that it's accurate."

--IANS

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