Pakistan must rein in LeT: US official
March 20th, 2010 - 1:56 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) Asserting that the US was aware of Indian concerns about the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, an official of the Obama administration Saturday said it was “very important” for Islamabad to rein in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a terrorist group that has “global ambitions” and has been targeting Americans as well.
“It is very important for Pakistan to take on Lashkar-e-Taiba threats, not only for the US but for India and other countries,” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake told reporters here.
Blake was speaking at a news conference after addressing the Asia Society Corporate Conference here.
He said there was growing concern in the US that the LeT, based in Pakistan, has “global ambitions and presence”. “It is targeting Americans… I will discuss this with Pakistani (authorities),” said Blake, who will also travel to Afghanistan and Pakistan - his first official trip as assistant secretary.
In Delhi, he will meet Indian and American business representatives and have discussions with his counterparts in the ministry of external affairs to prepare for the US-India strategic dialogue between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton later this year.
Blake said he was in India also to prepare the ground for President Barack Obama’s visit later this year, “for which I don’t have the exact dates”.
In Pakistan, he will meet with officials, civil society representatives, religious leaders and business representatives in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
Blake said that Pakistan has always maintained it won’t allow its soil to be used for terror activities. “I hope Pakistan will abide by that commitment.”
About New Delhi’s concerns that Pakistan was using against India the US arms meant for countering terrorists, Blake said “we are aware of Indian concerns and we had a good dialogue” during Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao’s visit to Washington earlier this week.
“The military relationship with Pakistan is increasingly changing… We are trying to enhance its (Pakistan’s) counter-insurgency capabilities and are trying to give them civilian assistance too.”
- LeT not yet on Pakistan's radar: Gen Petraeus - Mar 17, 2010
- US continuously pressing Pak to act against LeT: Blake - Jun 09, 2010
- LeT biggest threat to US after al-Qaeda: US envoy - Nov 27, 2010
- India no threat to Pakistan: US - Jun 04, 2010
- US Homeland Security chief visits India (Lead, Changing dateline) - May 24, 2011
- Pakistan should rein in Lashkar-e-Taiba: US - Mar 13, 2010
- Headley's confession shows LeT's global ambition: US - Mar 19, 2010
- 'India should be pleased with US cooperation in Headley case' - Jun 09, 2010
- US says its special forces in India; Delhi says 'no' (Lead) - Mar 02, 2012
- 26/11 justice: India hails US $10 mn bounty for Hafiz Saeed (Lead) - Apr 03, 2012
- All 26/11 terror attack perpetrators must be brought to justice expeditiously: India - Apr 14, 2011
- US special forces helping India to contain LeT - Mar 02, 2012
- Obama calls Manmohan on 'successful action' against Osama - May 10, 2011
- Hafiz supporters rant against India - Apr 07, 2012
- India welcomes US reward for LeT chief's capture - Apr 03, 2012
Tags: asia society, asian affairs, assistant secretary, barack obama, business representatives, central asian, exact dates, external affairs minister, global ambitions, growing concern, hillary clinton, islamabad, lahore, lashkar e taiba, ministry of external affairs, nirupama rao, pakistani authorities, religious leaders, society representatives, terror activities