Peshawar attack: US offers Pakistan assistance
State Department spokesperson says US will continue working with the Pakistani government on counter-terrorism
WASHINGTON:
As militants slaughtered 132 children at the Army Public School in Peshawar on Tuesday, the United States offered to assist Pakistan in any way possible.
“We have certainly made it clear to Pakistan that we're willing to help in the wake of this attack should they want or need any,” Pentagon spokesperson Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters during a briefing in Washington on Tuesday.
He added that Pakistan had so far not requested any assistance.
Kirby further said that there will be no change in the kind of relationship that the US wants to pursue with Pakistan as a result of Tuesday's attack.
His comments were echoed during the State Department's briefing where spokesperson Jen Psaki said that their contact with Pakistani government has been about the US' offer of assistance.
“Our conversations with Pakistan have been at all levels of the Pakistani government regarding the attack. And it's really been about our offer of assistance and our offer to continue working closely together to address these challenges.”
Common threat
Noting that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan still remains organised and capable of such acts, Kirby said that the US will continue working with Pakistan against them.
“This is a threat that the Pakistani people have been facing now for years. And we've long talked about the fact that it -- that it represents a common threat we [US and Pakistan] both face and share. And we -- one of the reasons why we've tried so hard to get the relationship with Pakistan onto solid footing -- and there's been ups and downs. There's been things we haven't agreed on. And there's certainly been tense moments in that relationship. But this attack today is a grim reminder that the threat is real, very real, and that the Pakistani people continue to suffer at the hands of that threat.”
He added that the Pakistani military has proven to be quite adept at dealing with the TTP, inflicting and suffering casualties in the process.
“We continue to want to and to pursue a good productive defense and security relationship with Pakistan.”
At the State Department, Psaki said that the US will continue working with the Pakistani government on counter-terrorism.
“Counter-terrorism is an integral part of our relationship, including in the Strategic Dialogue.”
She added that the message conveyed to both Afghanistan and Pakistan is that they should not have safe havens for terrorist organisations.
As militants slaughtered 132 children at the Army Public School in Peshawar on Tuesday, the United States offered to assist Pakistan in any way possible.
“We have certainly made it clear to Pakistan that we're willing to help in the wake of this attack should they want or need any,” Pentagon spokesperson Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters during a briefing in Washington on Tuesday.
He added that Pakistan had so far not requested any assistance.
Kirby further said that there will be no change in the kind of relationship that the US wants to pursue with Pakistan as a result of Tuesday's attack.
His comments were echoed during the State Department's briefing where spokesperson Jen Psaki said that their contact with Pakistani government has been about the US' offer of assistance.
“Our conversations with Pakistan have been at all levels of the Pakistani government regarding the attack. And it's really been about our offer of assistance and our offer to continue working closely together to address these challenges.”
Common threat
Noting that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan still remains organised and capable of such acts, Kirby said that the US will continue working with Pakistan against them.
“This is a threat that the Pakistani people have been facing now for years. And we've long talked about the fact that it -- that it represents a common threat we [US and Pakistan] both face and share. And we -- one of the reasons why we've tried so hard to get the relationship with Pakistan onto solid footing -- and there's been ups and downs. There's been things we haven't agreed on. And there's certainly been tense moments in that relationship. But this attack today is a grim reminder that the threat is real, very real, and that the Pakistani people continue to suffer at the hands of that threat.”
He added that the Pakistani military has proven to be quite adept at dealing with the TTP, inflicting and suffering casualties in the process.
“We continue to want to and to pursue a good productive defense and security relationship with Pakistan.”
At the State Department, Psaki said that the US will continue working with the Pakistani government on counter-terrorism.
“Counter-terrorism is an integral part of our relationship, including in the Strategic Dialogue.”
She added that the message conveyed to both Afghanistan and Pakistan is that they should not have safe havens for terrorist organisations.