Washington: United States of America on Thursday completely dismissed terror outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed's claims that the recent India-US pact to share their military bases for repair and resupply was anti-Pakistan and meant to counter the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor+ (CPEC).
US Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner said, “We have a strong bilateral relationship with Pakistan, but one that is premised on counter terrorism cooperation and as part of that conversation we made it very clear that Islamabad can't pick and choose which terrorist groups it goes after.”
Speaking tough, Toner said, “Pakistan has to go after those groups that seek to do harm to its neighbours and seek refuge on Pakistani soil.”
Toner's reaction comes after Saeed, founder of the terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba, and 2008 Mumbai blasts mastermind said, “"The US has issues with China, India has issues with Pakistan. The interest of both (China and Pakistan) has become one because of CPEC.”
Last month India, US signed the 'Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement'.
The LEMOA, signed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, facilitates the provision of logistical support, supplies and services between the US and Indian militaries on a reimbursable basis and provides a framework to govern them.
