Pakistan must eliminate terror safe havens, say US Senators

Washington:  Three key US Senators have asked Pakistan to take steps to eliminate terrorist safe havens in the country, if Islamabad wanted a closer relationship with the US.

The Senators charged Pakistan with not taking enough action against militants of the Haqqani group and Quetta Shura. They added that actions against these outfits was vital, as they were posing a greater threat than
ever.

In a joint statement US Senators Carl Levin, Jeanne Shaheen and Jeff Merkley said in a joint statement, after their return from a trip to Pakistan, "these safe havens allow those insurgents to cross the border to attack US, Afghan and coalition forces and then return to their sanctuaries.

"We told the Pakistanis' that we believe that their working to eliminate those safe havens is essential to a closer relationship between the US and Pakistan," the statement said.

"While the Pakistani Army takes on terrorist groups within their borders that attack them often at great cost in Pakistani lives, they have not taken on the Haqqani Group and the Quetta Shura," the statement added.

The US-led coalition and Afghan forces have successfully diminished Taliban havens in southern Afghanistan, "As a result, the Taliban are increasingly focusing their efforts in eastern Afghanistan. Consequently, the Pakistan safe havens for the Haqqani Group and the Afghan Taliban Quetta Shura pose a greater threat than ever," the US Senators said.

The Senators met the Pakistani Army Chief, General Ashfaq Kayani; Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani; and President, Asif Ali Zardari.