US Concerns With Pakistan On Terrorist Safe Havens Honest And Still Valid: Pentagon

The Pentagon has said that the US바카라�s concern with Pakistan on terrorist safe havens has been very honest and still valid today.

바카라�We've been very honest about our concerns with Pakistan for a long time, about the safe havens that exist on their side of the border along that spine. And those concerns are still valid today,바카라� Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters on Thursday at a news conference.

Afghanistan and the US have criticised Pakistan in the past for allowing Taliban fighters to cross into Pakistan where they are provided safe havens and also receive medical treatment.

As Afghanistan's neighbour, Pakistan certainly has equities and responsibilities with respect to terrorism in that part of the world, Kirby said.

바카라�We continue to have candid conversations with Pakistani leaders about our concerns,바카라� he said in response to a question.

바카라�I think it's important to continue to remind that the Pakistani people, likewise, have been rendered victim by terrorist threats that emanate from those groups and along that same border,바카라� he said.

While Kabul claims that Islamabad is sending thousands of militants to fight in the war-ravaged country and providing safe haven for the Taliban, Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan harbours the anti-Pakistani group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan -- the Pakistani Taliban -- and also the secessionist Balochistan Liberation Army.

Kirby also told reporters that the United States is within its rights to continue drone strikes inside Afghanistan.

바카라�We believe we have the authorities that we need to continue to protect the nation,바카라� he said.

The Taliban has accused the US of violating the withdrawal agreement by continuing to fly drones over Afghanistan and warned Americans against doing that in the future.

바카라�We have the authorities that we need to continue to defend our interests and the security of the American people there and around the world, and we're going to do that,바카라� Kirby said.

바카라�Over-the-horizon operations don't always have to include unmanned aerial assets, and they don't. That we use unmanned aerial assets clearly is true, and the Secretary (of Defence) cited one that was just a week or two ago in Syria. But over-the-horizon doesn't have to mean unmanned. It doesn't even always have to mean aviation,바카라� he said.

바카라�Over-the-horizon, as the Secretary defined it, means that the strike assets and the target analysis come from outside the country in which the operation occurs, and we can do that in a variety of means,바카라� he said.

(PTI inputs)