US calls on Pak to arrest or expel Taliban from its soil

Washington DC [United States], Jan 23 (ANI): The United States has called on Pakistan to arrest or expel the Taliban insurgents from its soil.

This US reaction comes after a deadly attack at central Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel claimed 18 lives.

However, a survivor of the hotel attack said the number of casualties was much higher than revealed by government sources.

According to The Express Tribune, White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders on Monday said, "We call on Pakistan to immediately arrest or expel the Taliban's leaders and prevent the group from using Pakistani territory to support its operations."

"In Afghanistan, where terrorists attacked the hotel in Kabul, such attacks on civilians only strengthen our resolve to support our Afghan partners," she added.

Earlier on Sunday, Afghanistan Ministry of Interior (MoI) confirmed that all the three terrorists, who attacked the Intercontinental Hotel here, have been eliminated after a 13-hour stand-off.

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal took to Twitter to condemn the attack and rejected the allegations of involvement of Pakistani nationals in the attack.

"We reject the knee jerk allegations by some Afghan circles to point the finger at Pakistan for the terrorist attack on intercontinental hotel in Kabul. There is need for a credible investigation into the attack, including on reported security lapses," Faisal tweeted.

We reject the knee jerk allegations by some Afghan circles to point the finger at Pakistan for the terrorist attack on intercontinental hotel in Kabul. There is need for a credible investigation into the attack, including on reported security lapses.

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 21, 2018

(ANI)