WASHINGTON: The United States expressed its “regret” over the loss of life at a military post within Pakistan and emphasized the need for the Taliban to prevent terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory.
In a media briefing in Washington, Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the State Department, underscored the U.S. stance that Afghanistan must never again serve as a safe haven for terrorists. Addressing concerns about recent events, he acknowledged Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan following an attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, expressing regret for the loss of life in both incidents.
Patel urged restraint from Pakistan in its counterterrorism efforts to avoid civilian casualties and emphasized the importance of dialogue between the involved parties to resolve differences. The U.S. remains dedicated to preventing Afghanistan from becoming a hub for terrorist activities threatening the U.S. and its allies.
Regarding assistance to Pakistan in counterterrorism and intelligence sharing, Patel confirmed ongoing discussions and collaboration between Washington and Pakistani leaders, including through counterterrorism dialogue and bilateral consultations.
Regarding Ambassador Donald Blome’s engagements with Pakistan’s new leadership, Patel highlighted discussions with Prime Minister Sharif on various bilateral matters, including regional security, economic reforms supported by the International Monetary Fund, trade, investment, education, and climate change.
