Clinton warns Pak of ‘devastating’ consequences if US attack stems from its soil

ISLAMABAD - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on the Pakistani government to take specific actions against the militant networks in the country to keep the relationship between the two countries intact.

Clinton is currently in Islamabad on a two-day visit, which will focus on economic aid, and Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan.

“”There are still additional steps that we are asking and expecting the Pakistanis to take. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that should an attack against the United States be traced to be Pakistani it would have a very devastating impact on our relationship,” the BBC quoted Clinton, as saying.

Clinton however said that progress had been made in addressing the trust deficit between the two countries.

“All in all we are making progress, but I don’t want to oversell it, because every day I know how much more needs to be done. There is openness and a level of candour that is more helpful in dealing with our ongoing challenges,” she added.

The Secretary of State also said that the department was looking into the possibility of listing the Haqqani network as a terrorist organisation.

The network operates along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and is seen as the main threat to the US and NATO troops in Afghanistan.

“We have designated a number of their leaders over the years as terrorists, and we’re now looking at whether and how to describe the group and if it meets the legal criteria for naming it,” she said.

As part of her visit, Clinton met Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday.

She will also hold talks with several senior Pakistani officials, including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif.(ANI)