Pakistan put on notice over terrorist safe havens: Pence

washington — US President Donald Trump has put Pakistan on notice for providing alleged safe haven to the Taleban and other militant groups, VicePresident Mike Pence has said, warning that the country has much to lose if it does not stop harbouring terrorists on its soil.

Pence’s remarks came during an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to assess ground realities in the war-torn country. During his visit on Thursday, Pence held meetings with top Afghan leadership to hear from them the progress on the implementation of Trump’s new South Asia Policy.

“For too long Pakistan has provided safe haven to the Taleban and many terrorist organisations, but those days are over. President Trump has put Pakistan on notice,” Pence told American troops at the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan.

“As the president said, so I say now: Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with the US, and Pakistan has much to lose by continuing to harbour criminals and terrorists,” the vice president said, issuing another stern warning to Pakistan.

Trump, he said, has unleashed the full range of American military might.

“We’ve lifted the restrictions that limited the effectiveness of our armed forces, so you can, as the president has said, fully and swiftly wage battle against the enemy,” Pence said. The Trump administration, he said, has given troops new authorities to directly target terrorists no matter where they hide. — PTI