State Department Spokesperson Ned Price has reiterated President Joe Biden’s pledge of taking action “in a way that protects our interests” if the US sees “international terrorists regrouping in Afghanistan”.
The statement came on Wednesday in response to a question about the rise of violence in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s failure to not provide “safe havens” to terrorist groups — including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and others.
Price said that the Afghan Taliban had been “either unable or unwilling to live up to the commitments. Where the US’ broader goal was to ensure “terrorists and others don’t use Afghanistan as a launch pad for attacks on Pakistan”.
Price stated that the US values its “bilateral relationship” with Pakistan. He added US is ready to work with its partners in the region, including Pakistan.
The vow followed almost a week after Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul came under attack. The attack had targeted Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires Ubaid Nizamani in Kabul.
Responding to a question about the security cooperation between the two countries, Price recalled the grant assistance which provides professional military education.
Separately, Price also local daily on Wednesday, “We have seen the reports that IS-K has claimed responsibility for the attack.”
Earlier this month, Washington had declared four TTP and South Asian Al Qaeda leaders as global terrorists and vowed to use its full might against all Afghanistan-based terror groups.
It followed the TTP’s announcement last month to end its ceasefire agreement with the government of Pakistan.
In an earlier statement, another US State Department official said the militants operating in Afghanistan were a common enemy and that the US and Pakistan “have a shared interest” in combating them.
