US cannot tolerate Pakistan becoming haven for terrorists: Nikki Haley

Haley, the US ambassador at the UN, said that India and her country share common democratic values and that the focus on defeating terrorism is equally desired by both.

This photo was tweeted by @nikkihaley

New Delhi: In India on a two-day official visit, Nikki Haley on Thursday underlined the strong bond shared between the United States and India and targeted Pakistan for providing sanctuary to terrorist organisations.

Haley, the American ambassador at the United Nations, said that the US and India share common democratic values, traditions and a common vision to eradicate terrorism and it is this that binds the two countries together. "We share a commitment to defeating terrorism and the hateful ideology that motivates it," she said before taking on Pakistan. "The US values Pakistan as a partner but we cannot tolerate the state becoming a haven for terrorists and hope to see a change."

US-Pakistan relations have nosedived in recent months with the Donald Trump administration admonishing Islamabad for not acting against terrorist organisations like Haqqani Network which operate from its soil. A number of high-ranking US officials and diplomats have taken on Pakistan for being rather soft with Trump himself tweeting his anger at the country in a January 1 post.

The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018

Haley on Tuesday though mainly focused on growing bonhomie between the US and India, and pointed out that bilateral relations between the two are like no other. "The US seeks productive relationship with China. However, they do not share the same democratic values like us. Their expansion in the region without respect for rights unlike India will limit their relationship with the US," she said.

RT @USUN: Great discussion with Prime Minister @narendramodi on trade, defense, regional security, and strengthening our partnership. As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, our friendship is strong. pic.twitter.com/xtfej9o7qt

— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) June 27, 2018

Haley, the highest ranking Indian-American official in the Trump administration, then went on to term India as a responsible nuclear state and said that the US support the country's bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).