U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Pakistan should do more to combat terrorism, and that the United States is committed to going after Pakistan-based terror groups that threaten the U.S., Afghanistan and other allies.
After talks Tuesday in New Delhi with her Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, Clinton told reporters the United States and India “know the tragedies” of terrorism on their soil. She also said terrorists in Pakistan have killed 30,000 Pakistanis.
“We look to the government of Pakistan to do more. It needs to make sure that its territory is not used as launching pads for terrorist attacks anywhere — including inside of Pakistan.”
In earlier comments in Kolkata, Clinton said Pakistan has not acted on U.S. and Indian calls to capture or try suspected Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who is accused of playing a major role in the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai that killed 166 people. Clinton has authorized a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Saeed founded the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba in the 1990s which India blames for the three-day assault on Mumbai. India says Pakistani action on the Mumbai attackers is key to tentative peace moves between the nuclear-armed rivals.
On Tuesday, Clinton said the United States and India need to deepen their security cooperation, and that both countries share the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
She also commended India for steps its refineries have taken in reducing their oil imports from Iran, as part of a continued campaign to pressure Tehran over its controversial nuclear program.
“We don't believe Iran would be back at the negotiating table unless there had been the unrelenting pressure of international sanctions, and this pressure must stay on if we want to see progress toward a peaceful resolution.”
About nine percent of India's oil imports come from Iran. Clinton said a U.S. team of experts will arrive in India next week to assist local refineries in finding alternative sources of oil.
Western powers suspect Iran is developing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian energy program, a charge Tehran denies. Krishna said Iran has rights as a participant in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but that it must abide by its obligations under the pact.
Clinton and Krishna also discussed economic issues, including progress on a civil nuclear cooperation deal, as the two sides prepare for a U.S.-India strategic forum in Washington next month.
The top U.S. diplomat said trade between the two countries is expected to top $100 billion this year, and that they should be working toward having one of the world's largest trading relationships.
Clinton met Monday with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the leader of the ruling coalition, Sonia Gandhi.
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