Pakistan ‘must’ end all terror networks: Obama

Describing the Pathankot attack as “another example of the inexcusable terrorism that India has endured for too long”, Obama gave credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reaching out to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif after the attack. “Both leaders are advancing a dialogue of how to confront terrorism across the region,” Obama told PTI in an interview. 

Obama was of the view that Sharif recognised that insecurity in Pakistan is a threat to its own stability and that of the region. After the December, 2014 school massacre in Peshawar he had vowed to target all militants, regardless of their agenda or affiliation. “That is the right policy. Since then, we have seen Pakistan take action against several specific groups,” he said.

The President said that he still believed that “Pakistan can and must” take more effective action against terrorist groups that operate from its territory. 

Asked if the Indo-US relationship has achieved its full potential, the President replied, “Absolutely not.” 

In an apparent criticism of the Indian government’s crackdown on certain NGOs, Obama said that civil society groups that strengthen communities need to be supported and not “stifled”. The US has been critical of India’s action against NGOs particularly Greenpeace whose registration was cancelled in September 2015.