Signalling frustration, Pentagon has said Pakistan can do more to combat terrorism. USA has repeatedly targeted Pakistan over its reluctance to act against terrorists. USA has even frozen USD 2 billion aid to Pakistan last month

by Geeta Mohan

The USA has come down very hard on Pakistan on the issue of terrorism in recent times

The Pentagon has expressed displeasure at Pakistan and has said that Pakistan can do much more to rein in the terrorists operating on its soil (Photo- Reuters)

Pakistan has received another rap from from the US as the Pentagon said that it can do more to combat terrorism, clearly suggesting that the country with terrorist hotbeds on its very soil isn't doing anything to curb the menace.

USA has said repeatedly that Pakistan isn't doing much to take action against terror groups acting on its soil.

Terror group like the dreaded Haqqani network and the Taliban operate freely inside Pakistan. Islamabad has always denied these allegations.

Last month, the US froze some USD 2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan.

"With respect to Pakistan, we believe that Pakistan can do more to combat terrorism. This is an inflection point and this is an opportunity and Pakistan has an opportunity to do more," Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Dana White told reporters at her weekly news conference.

Pakistan, she noted, has been a victim of terrorism.

"So, we'll look forward to continuing to work with them to see where there are opportunities," she said.

US has stepped up pressure on its so called ally against terrorism recntly in a way never seen before.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump tweeted about the billions of dollars Pakistan gets from USA as aid. The President made it public via his tweet that the US money is being used to support the very terrorists US wanted eliminated.

As USA steps up its pressure on Pakistan, its so called 'all weather ally' China has stepped in to defend to defend Pakistan. China has major involvement inside Pakistan through 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor'(CPEC) in which it is dramatically upgrading infrastructure in Pakistan and developing its port Gwadar.

However, China could not support Pakistan in face of international pressure in Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF has put Pakistan back in the 'grey list' because it does not have effective control against funding channels which the terrorists use.

PENTAGON ON INDIA

The US is working with India on a range of issues including regional and maritime security, the Pentagon said today.

"Our goal is to ensure that we are working together on an array of issues with respect to regional security," Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Dana White told reporters at her weekly news conference.

India, she said, plays a very important role. "Therefore the more we can have a conversation not only about Afghanistan and the future of Afghanistan but also how can we work together on maritime security?" she said. "There's a great deal that we can learn from each other and so the Secretary (of Defence) looks forward to that conversation," White said, responding to the first two-plus-two dialogue between India and the US next month.