US asks Pakistan to eliminate safe havens of Taliban along Pak-Afg border

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Islamabad should target safe hideouts of the Taliban along its border with Afghanistan, said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during his phone call with Army Chief of Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

During a presser on Wednesday, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said that secretary Austin believes the safe havens to be the main cause behind insecurity and the ongoing atrocities in Afghanistan.

This comes as Pakistan continues to deny supporting and providing safe havens to the Taliban fighters. The Afghan government has been accusing its neighbour of funding and providing support to the Taliban.

US Defence Secretary earlier this week held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan Army Chief and discussed the ongoing situation in Afghanistan where Taliban and Afghan forces are engaged in violent clashes.

During the phone call with Pak Army Chief, Austin expressed his interest in continuing to improve the US-Pakistan relationship and build upon their multiple shared interests in the region, Kirby said.

The Pentagon spokesperson said that the US does not feel to be reluctant in discussing safe havens along the Afg-Pak border with the leadership of Pakistan.

`The people of Pakistan are also victims of the terrorism in the region and there is a shared sense in closing down those safe havens and not allowing them to be used by the Taliban,’ said Kirby.

As per the Pentagon spokesman, the US continues to raise the issue of the Taliban’s safe havens with the Pakistani leadership.