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Pakistan minister says all cooperation with America suspended; 'Come to table', says US

When asked to comment on Pakistan's reported move, US Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said: "We're hopeful for future cooperation from Pakistan."

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People burn a sign depicting a U.S. flag and a picture of U.S. President Donald Trump as they take part in an anti-U.S. rally in Peshawar, Pakistan, January 5, 2018.
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The US has expressed hope that Pakistan would "come to the table" and demonstrate a willingness to "aggressively" confront terrorist groups that operate from its territory, amid reports that Islamabad has suspended its military and intelligence cooperation with America.

According to media reports, Pakistan's decision to suspend military and intelligence cooperation with America came after President Donald accused Islamabad of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to it.

When asked to comment on Pakistan's reported move, US Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said: "We're hopeful for future cooperation from Pakistan."

"We stand ready to work with Pakistan in combating all terrorists without distinction, and we hope to be able to renew and deepen our bilateral security relationship when Pakistan demonstrates its willingness to aggressively confront the Taliban network, the Haqqani Network, and other terrorist and militant groups that operate from its territory," he said.
The US has been clear on this issue to Pakistan, Goldstein said.
"We would like Pakistan to come to the table and assist us in this effort," he said adding that the suspension of security aid is not a cutoff and no funds have been reprogrammed.
The US announced on Thursday that it would not deliver military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan.
On Monday, a Pentagon spokesman said the US had conveyed to Pakistan to take "concrete steps" against terror groups to earn hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.
Referring to his conversation with the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Goldstein hoped that Pakistan will join the US in its effort with regard to fight against terrorism.
"The Pakistani people have suffered greatly from terrorism, and its security forces have been effective in combating the groups that target Pakistan's interest. So, it is to their benefit to join with us in helping resolve this matter," Goldstein said.

"We always look at that; but again, it's a suspension and not a cutoff. We haven't reprogrammed the funds. We re hopeful that Pakistan will come back to the table and do what they told us that they would do," he said.
The US and others have long complained that Pakistan offered safe haven to the Afghan Taliban and their allies, the Haqqani Network, allowing them to carry out cross-border attacks in Afghanistan.
Pakistan denies allegations but President Trump has escalated the criticism against the country since he took office last January. 

Earlier, according to a report carried by The News International, Pakistan had suspended all intelligence and defence cooperation with the US, said its defence minister at a public talk. 

Pakistan's The News reported that defence minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said on Tuesday that it was high time for Pakistan to have a "'ruthlessly candid dialogue' with the US" which blames Pakistan for nurturing Afghanistan-oriented terror groups and providing them safe haven. According to reports, it's unclear whether the minister's comment is the official position, because the Voice of America (VOA) said the US Embassy in Islamabad is denying Pakistan's claims.

(With PTI inputs)

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