US urges Pakistan to confront extremist groups

State Dept spokesperson says reduced tensions between India and Pakistan are in world's best interest

The United States has stressed Pakistan can do more to confront extremist groups, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said on Tuesday.

Apprising the media regarding US National security Adviser Susan Rice’s recent visit to Pakistan, Earnest said, "There is more work the government can do to combat groups that pose a security threat to both Pakistan and the United States.”

The spokesperson said he is confident the subject also will be on the agenda when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visits the White House later this year, according to VOA News.

On Monday, the premier's senior aide responded to US concerns that the country remains a haven for the feared Haqqani network, saying on Monday that the militants have been weakened by an army offensive and now operate mostly out of Afghanistan.

Sartaj Aziz, national adviser for foreign affairs, spoke a day after US National Security Adviser Susan Rice warned leaders in Islamabad that attacks in Afghanistan by militants based in Pakistani threaten regional security.

US officials particularly expressed concern about the Haqqani network, which they blamed for several bloody bombings and attacks in the Afghan capital in recent weeks.

Aziz denied any implication that Pakistan is not targeting the Haqqani network in its military offensive in the border region of North Waziristan.

Reduced tensions between India, Pakistan in world's best interest 

Further, the US urged Pakistan and India to hold dialogue in order to address the ongoing tensions between the two nations, adding that it was in the interest of the entire world for them to do so, Radio Pakistan reported.

"The US encourages the two countries to hold dialogue to reduce tensions," US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark C Toner said.

Read: US intervention sought to ease tensions with India

Responding to a question, Toner said that the sources of regional violence to bring peace and stability to the region were assessed during US National Security Advisor Susan Rice's meeting with Pakistani leadership.

Further, during her visit, Rice indicated on "a number of occasions" to Pakistani leadership that more could be done on their behalf to confront extremist groups, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said.

"There is more work the government can do to combat groups that pose a security threat to both Pakistan and the United States," Rice was reported to have said according to VOA News.

Pakistan had sought American intervention to de-escalate brewing tensions with its arch nemesis as ongoing deadly skirmishes along the Line of Control and working boundary set off alarm bells in the West amid talk of a possible limited war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Read: Indian troops continue ceasefire violations along LoC

Rice held separate meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, army chief General Raheel Sharif and her Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz.

Her visit focused heavily on bilateral issues as well as current regional situation, including worsening ties between Pakistan and India and unrest in neighbouring Afghanistan.