Washington (Web Desk): The United States (US) has stated that 'Pakistan has the right to defend itself from terrorism' as the country suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks.
The statement by the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price comes after the National Security Committee (NSC), Pakistan's highest civil-military forum for decisions on matters pertaining to national security, expressed firm resolve to crush terrorist groups operating against Pakistan.
“We’re aware of the recent statement by the Pakistani National Security Committee,” Spokesperson Price said in response to a question during a weekly briefing.
“We continue … to call on the Taliban to uphold the very commitment they have made to see to it that Afghan soil is never again used as a launchpad for international terrorist attacks, he said, adding, that "These are among the very commitments that the Taliban have been unable or unwilling to fulfill to date.”
The spokesman said that it has been repeatedly said that there will be a response from the United States.
"The Taliban have made commitments to the international community. But more importantly, they have made commitments to the Afghan people. Those are the commitments we care most about. Among the commitments, the Taliban have made but have repeatedly broken when it comes to their own people is an emphasis on human rights," Ned Price said.
The spokesman continued, "As long as the Taliban is not able to fulfil these commitments, we will respond in a way that registers our strong condemnation while continuing to support the Afghan people. And we’re going to be very careful not to do anything that could further imperil the humanitarian well-being of the Afghan people."
Earlier on Monday, the NSC said that no country will be allowed to provide sanctuaries and facilitation to terrorists and that Pakistan reserves the right to safeguard its people.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for much of the growing violence in the country, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP) and Balochistan.