US NSA Susan Rice calls Ajit Doval, says 'expect Pakistan to take action against terror’

Washington: US National Security Advisor Susan E Rice on Wednesday called her Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and condemned the cross-border terror attack on an Army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir which took place on September 18.

During the conversation, Rice said the White House expects Pakistan to take "effective action to combat and delegitimise" UN-designated terrorists and terror groups.

US National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said in a press statement: "Ambassador Rice affirmed President (Barack) Obama`s commitment to redouble our efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism throughout the world".

"Highlighting the danger that cross-border terrorism poses to the region, Ambassador Rice reiterated our expectation that Pakistan takes effective action to combat and delegitimise United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and their affiliates."

In his statement, Price said that in the context of the strong India-US relationship, Rice, in her conversation with Doval, "discussed our shared commitment to India to pursuing peace and regional stability and pledged to deepen collaboration on counter-terrorism matters including on UN terrorist designations."

The early morning attack on the Uri Army base on September 18 claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers.

India has blamed the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed for the attack.

The attack came amid large-scale violence in Jammu and Kashmir that has claimed around 90 lives following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in July.

In a huge diplomatic blow to Pakistan, India has pulled out of the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November.

After India's announcement, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan too followed suit, citing state sponsorship of terrorism as the reason.