Ahead of India visit: Terrorist ‘safe havens’ in Pakistan unacceptable, says Obama
US president says those behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks should be brought to justice
A file photo of President Barack Obama. PHOTO: AFP
US President Barack Obama has said terrorist “safe havens” in Pakistan are unacceptable, The Hindu reported on Friday ahead of a crucial visit to India.
In an interview to India Today magazine which has been published in the upcoming issue of the weekly, the US president also said those behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks should be brought to justice
“I have made it clear that even as the US works with Pakistan to meet the threat of terrorism, safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable,” Obama said.
The US president, who will begin his three-day visit to India this Sunday, said the US has been relentless in its fight against terror.
“We have deepened our cooperation against terrorism, and we work together to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons,” he said.
Obama also said people world over were horrified by the devastating attack on over 130 children in Peshawar, an attack that had paralysed Pakistan.
Of the attack, he said it was a “painful reminder that terrorists threaten us all.”
The Nawaz-led government decided on January 15 to ban the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which is led by Hafiz Saeed, who incidentally has been linked to being the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack.
“As President, I have made sure that the US has been unrelenting in its fight against terrorist groups — a fight in which Indians and Americans are united,” the US president said.
Obama said both terror attacks on September 11 and the Mumbai attacks included victims of India and the US.
“On my previous visit to India, my first stop was the memorial at the Taj Hotel to pay my respects to the victims, meet with survivors and send a strong message to the Indian people that we stand together in defence of our security and our way of life,” he added.
In an interview to India Today magazine which has been published in the upcoming issue of the weekly, the US president also said those behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks should be brought to justice
“I have made it clear that even as the US works with Pakistan to meet the threat of terrorism, safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable,” Obama said.
The US president, who will begin his three-day visit to India this Sunday, said the US has been relentless in its fight against terror.
“We have deepened our cooperation against terrorism, and we work together to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons,” he said.
Obama also said people world over were horrified by the devastating attack on over 130 children in Peshawar, an attack that had paralysed Pakistan.
Of the attack, he said it was a “painful reminder that terrorists threaten us all.”
The Nawaz-led government decided on January 15 to ban the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which is led by Hafiz Saeed, who incidentally has been linked to being the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack.
“As President, I have made sure that the US has been unrelenting in its fight against terrorist groups — a fight in which Indians and Americans are united,” the US president said.
Obama said both terror attacks on September 11 and the Mumbai attacks included victims of India and the US.
“On my previous visit to India, my first stop was the memorial at the Taj Hotel to pay my respects to the victims, meet with survivors and send a strong message to the Indian people that we stand together in defence of our security and our way of life,” he added.