08 August 2016

News Story: Pakistan says U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson's remarks misplaced

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Sunday angrily reacted to remarks by the U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner's critical remarks that Pakistan is selective in targeting terrorists and does not go after those threatening its neighbours.

Toner told a news conference in Washington on Friday that the U.S. has been very clear with the highest levels of the government of Pakistan that they must "target all militant groups, and that includes those that target Pakistan's neighbours, and they must also close all safe havens."

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman said the remarks of the U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson are misplaced and are not sensitive to Pakistan's security concerns.

"We have taken a serious note of the remarks made by the U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson, which are self-contradictory and oblivious of the fact that Pakistan has taken concrete measures to counter terrorism in a phase-wise manner keeping in view Pakistan's national security concerns."

Read the full story at Xinhua