Pak should root out outfits like LeT: Clinton

Mumbai, Jul 18 (PTI) Pressing Pakistan to root out
Lashkar-e-Taiba and other such terror outfits, US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton Saturday said Islamabad has shown
"greater commitment" over last six months to fight terrorism
but it was to early to speak about the outcome of that effort.

Apparently expecting more action by Pakistan against
terrorism, she said Washington looks for a "concerted effort"
so that the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks are brought to
justice.

She, however, skirted a question on whether US would put
pressure on Islamabad to hand over fugitives like
Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and underworld don Dawood
Ibrahim to India.

"Terror organisations (in Pakistan) -- we believe they
have to be rooted out and they must be defeated and
dismantled. We believe in this and we continue to do so," she
said at a press interaction when asked about the US views on
concerns about groups like LeT operating from Pakistan.

"The bottomline for me is that our Government is
committed to fight against terrorism. We expect everyone with
whom we have relations to take strong action to prevent
terrorism from taking roots on their soil... Not that any
particular country is used and that's what we are working
towards" she said, without naming Pakistan.

At the same time, she said Pakistan had displayed
commitment in recent months to fight terrorism.

"Based on what we have seen in the last six months...
there has been a much greater effort and commitment and that
is not only at the government level but much more through
society to take on the terrorists and I believe that there is
a concerted effort that we can look to and see the results
from," Clinton, who is on a five-day visit, said at a press
meet here.

However, she said "it is too early to tell the outcome
of this commitment that we see coming from Pakistan."

"I also believe, in the next few days, there will be a
greater awareness whether or not there will be a commitment to
bring the Mumbai terrorists to heel and hopefully to justice."

Her comments assume significance as it came on a day when
a second and supplementary chargesheet against five LeT
operatives accused of involvement in the Mumbai attacks,
including its operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was filed
before an anti-terror court in the garrison city of Rawalpindi
by Pakistani investigators.

Clinton, who was speaking after paying tributes to the
victims of 26/11 attacks at Taj Hotel, said, "The US is very
supportive of all efforts in the fight against terrorism."

Asked if US was pressurising India to resume
dialogue with Pakistan, she said, "We are not in any way
involved in promoting any particular position as these
decisions lie with the Governments themselves." PTI SUD
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