WASHINGTON: The United States said on Friday that it would continue to support Pakistan in dealing with the shared threat of terrorism.
“And it’s a shared threat, a shared challenge that we have, and we have maintained an interest in helping them deal with, and that will continue,” the Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said during a press briefing in Washington on Friday.
The Pentagon press secretary said that terrorism is a common threat to Pakistan and the United States.
“And it’s a common threat, a common challenge that we all have to continue to work on together and to look for ways to improve that cooperation,” he said.
John Kirby said that military cooperation continues to improve between the United States and Pakistan.
Kirby said that the sanctuary that some terrorist groups enjoy in Pakistan has long been an issue of concern for the United States, adding that the subject has long been a topic of discussion between the US and Pakistani leadership.
“It’s important to remember the Pakistani people have become — are victims of this — of terrorism, just like the people in Paris are this week,” Kirby further said.
Moreover, he said that it is for Pakistan to continue the fight against terrorism in its own interest as Pakistanis have been victims of terror.
“It’s not about us putting pressure on the Pakistani government. It’s about the Pakistani government continuing to address this threat in keeping with their best interests and the interests of their people,” the Pentagon press secretary said.