Crushing terror: US hails Pakistan’s plan to ban militant outfits

Says it’s an important step towards curbing terrorist activity

WASHINGTON: The United States has welcomed a move by Pakistan to clamp down on militant outfits, including the Haqqani Network and Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), calling the banning of these outfits “an important step towards eliminating terrorist activity”.

“We welcome reports that the government of Pakistan plans to outlaw the Haqqani network, JuD and I think 10 other organisations linked to violent extremism,” said Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson at the State Department.

Speaking at a briefing, hosted by Washington’s Foreign Press Centre, the spokesperson called the decision “an important step certainly towards eliminating terrorist activity in Pakistan”.



Harf, earlier during the daily briefing maintained, “I know this was just an announcement that this is planning to happen. I don’t have more details on when it might.”

On Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Pakistan this week, the spokesperson said the chief American diplomat had a ‘very good’ visit during which he discussed counterterrorism and how the two sides could work more closely.

“Obviously, the secretary [Kerry] was just there and had a wide-ranging conversation with the Pakistanis about counterterrorism, certainly.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2015.