US defence secretary James Mattis has said that his upcoming visit to Pakistan was part of an effort to “set the conditions for future collaboration” that would lead to denial of safe havens “for any terrorist group that would attack anyone in the region”. He said the US would like to broaden the focus to ensure “no terrorist organisation is seen as able to operate from a haven there”. President Donald Trump has warned Pakistan that the US “will not be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorists” and that “it has much to lose by continuing to harbour criminals and terrorists”. After a court ended Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed’s house arrest, the White House issued an angry warning, threatening Pakistan with “repercussions” for the bilateral relationship if it did not immediately re-arrest him. When asked what those measure might be, he did not rule down withdrawing Pakistan’s “major non-NATO ally” status as an option.

Source: Hindustan Times December 02, 2017 15:00 UTC