No evidence of Pakistan crackdown on militants: US Deputy Secretary

Addressing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan on Tuesday said that Washington recognised the "benefits of cooperation" with Pakistan and acknowledged the "enormous sacrifices the Pakistani people and security forces have made to combat terrorism."

He said that Pakistan has played an important role in pushing Al Qaeda closer to defeat, combating ISIS, securing its nuclear weapons, hosting Afghan refugees, and, importantly, providing access for supplies and equipment used by US and Afghan forces.

John Sullivan said that the United States was committed to play its role to reduce tensions in the region. "To be clear, we oppose the use of terrorist proxies by any country against another country, anywhere in the world. The use of terrorism has no place in a rules-based international system. We hope the Pakistan will also help to convince the Taliban to enter a peace process," he said.

But he also said that the United States intends to "hold Pakistan accountable for its failure to deny sanctuary to militant proxies."

Early last month, the US Government had announced it was suspending security assistance to the Pakistani military until it took "decisive action" against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network that are operating in neighbouring Afghanistan. US officials said the freeze could affect $2 billion worth of assistance.