As part of efforts to convince Pakistan to abandon its policy of using extremist elements as a strategic tool,the US has warned it that there is no good terrorist whom it can count on and asked it to take more steps against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.
Pakistans military action against terrorists in the countrys restive northwest is an important first step,but it needs to take more steps,Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a Congressional hearing convened by the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs.
We think that in the last year the Pakistanis have really stepped up their military action against the Pakistani Taliban in both Swat and South Waziristan as an abrupt about- face from their prior policies. And its been a unifying policy supported by the people of Pakistan, she said.
So they have taken an important first step,but they need to take more steps in their own best interests, she said in response to a question from Republican Edward Royce.
There has to be a recognition in Pakistan of connection between those elements of Taliban who attacked their military and intelligence headquarters,indiscriminately killed and maimed so many hundreds of Pakistanis and all of the other elements of this syndicate of terrorism, Clinton said.
Later in an interview to CBS Evening News,she said the case weve been making to both the civilian and the military leadership of Pakistan is a simple one: There is no good terrorist,there is no terrorist that you can count on not to turn against you.8221;