India and the US asked Pakistan to take “immediate and irreversible action” during their 2+2 meeting in Washington DC to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorism against other countries or even to prosecute the perpetrators of cross-border terror attacks, including Mumbai and Pathankot strikes.
The two countries also asked Pakistan to take serious action against all terrorist networks, including al-Qaeda, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Haqqani Network, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and D-Company of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
India and Afghanistan have earlier accused Pakistan of providing shelter to the Afghan Taliban, Haqqani network and other major militant groups, which carry out attacks in the two countries.
The Joint Statement was issued at the end of the second India-US 2+2 dialogue between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the State Department on Wednesday during the historic impeachment vote against President Donald Trump in the U.S.
“The Ministers called on Pakistan to take immediate, sustained and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorism against other countries in any manner, and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of cross-border terrorist attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot,” the Joint Statement said.
India appreciated US support at the United Nations for terrorist designations, including of JeM leader Masood Azhar, and the US welcomed changes in Indian law that will facilitate further cooperation on terrorism designations, it said.
