Stop backing terror groups: US to Pak
China non-committal on demand to sanction JEM chief
hammad”.
A statement issued by the White House spokesperson termed the assault by the JEM suicide bomber with a vehicle packed with up to 100 kg of explosives as an “heinous” and “brutal” attack “by a Pakistan-based terrorist group”.
“The US calls on Pakistan to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence and terror in the region,” the statement said. It added the attack will strengthen the resolve to “bolster counterterrorism cooperation and coordination between the US and India”.
The White House statement was unusually blunt, given that the US has worked in recent weeks to improve strained relations with Pakistan to facilitate talks with the Afghan Taliban in view of American plans for a troop drawdown in Afghanistan.
At a news briefing in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry spokes-
person Geng Shuang condemned the attack but skirted the issue of listing Azhar by UN’S 1267 Committee. “We are deeply shocked by this attack...,” he said.
Asked about China’s stand on listing Azhar as a global terrorist, Geng repeated what Beijing has repeatedly said about UN protocols being followed. Between the lines, the message was clear — Beijing won’t allow Islamabad to be humiliated by sanctioning the JEM chief.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The perpetrators and sponsors of this attack, undoubtedly, should be duly punished,” he said. Canada’s foreign minister Chrystia Freeland said her country stands “in solidarity with the government and the people of India in the fight to prevent radicalisation and defeat terrorism”. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said: “Terrorism is a cancer in the region, and it requires collective efforts to root it out.”