'Pak's contribution needed to stabilise situation in Afghanistan'

Washington DC [United States], Jan 11 (ANI): United States Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Thursday underscored that Islamabad's "positive" contribution is imperative for the stability and security in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan is also important to situation in Afghanistan. I don't think we are going to get stability and security in Afghanistan if Pakistan does not contribute positively to that," Envoy Juster said, in his inaugural policy speech on US-India relations here.

"That was really a major impetus in suspending the security assistance to Pakistan because we feel they have not done all that they could to try to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan that are contributing to unrest in Afghanistan," Juster added.

The U.S. had earlier this month announced that they were stopping the military aid to Pakistan, as it was not taking "necessary steps" to curb terrorism

U.S. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said the embargo would remain in place until Pakistan takes action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.

However, the US on Tuesday made its stand clear that the aid to Pakistan has only been suspended not cut-off, as it wanted the country to take an aggressive approach in eliminating terrorism.

"The US would like Pakistan to come to the table and assist us in this effort. The military aid is a suspension and not a cutoff for Pakistan.

No funds have been reprogrammed. We're hopeful for future cooperation from Pakistan," Steve Goldstein, US Under Secretary of State said in a statement. (ANI)