Newsroom24x7 Staff
We all know that terrorism, in many ways, knows no border. We continue to urge actions to combat and delegitimize terrorist groups like LeT and the Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammad. So this is something that we’re obviously keenly focused on.
Washington DC: On the post-Uri surgical strikes by the Indian Army leading to the demolition of launch pads for terrorists inside the Pak occupied Kashmir area in the early hours of Thursday (29 September), the message from the USA to both sides -India and Pakistan – is that they should increase communication to deal with this threat (terrorism) and to avoid steps that escalate the tensions.
This was stated by John Kirby, the US State Department Spokesperson in response to a query at the daily press briefing here.
Kirby said that instead of characterizing “each and every step along the way (to combating terrorism), the US wants to see increased cooperation against what is a very shared common threat for both countries, and to see steps being taken to deal with it by all sides.
On the terror attack at the Indian Army base camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, Kirby said: ‘Obviously an attack like that escalates tensions. But what I don’t want to do is try to get into some sort of broad characterization, one way or the other. But obviously an attack like this is horrific.”
Kirby said that the US is following the situation closely. Stating that the Indian and Pakistani militaries have been in communication, he emphahsised that the US believes that continued communication is obviously important to reduce tensions.
We’ve repeatedly expressed our concerns regarding the danger that terrorism poses to the region, Kirby said adding “we all know that terrorism, in many ways, knows no border. We continue to urge actions to combat and delegitimize terrorist groups like LeT and the Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammad. So this is something that we’re obviously keenly focused on.”
Kirby informed media-persons that the US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Swaraj on 27 September and reiterated his strong condemnation of the September 18 Uri attack. He condemned terrorism in all its forms and also cautioned against any escalation in tensions.
Answering a pointed query on specific steps taken to strengthen cooperation on fighting terrorism between India and Pakistan, Kirby said: “We’re always trying to get better at combatting terrorism in the region. And there are many ways you can do that – through information-sharing regimens and increasing communication between all parties involved.”
Kirby observed: “I don’t talk about the specifics of military”, When a journalist pointed out that this was a counter-terrorism operation (the surgical strikes by the Indian Army) and asked, as there is strong coordination between India and the U.S. on counter-terrorism issues, was there any coordination on this strike by the Indian forces?
