'Era of lip service is over' US tells Pakistan

Washington, May 7 (ANI): The United States has once again clarified to Pakistan that it would have to counter the expanding writ of the Taliban effectively, and be very specific about what it wants to achieve in the fight against terror, as the "era of lip service was over".

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of her meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said all the countries should be very specific in working out their plans to counter the terror threat.

"A lot of lip service was paid in the past that did not translate into better lives, more safety, more security, economic development for the people of Pakistan," The Nation quoted Clinton, as saying.

"We want to know what we have agreed to, what they have agreed to, how we're going to proceed toward meeting those goals and objectives, and timetables that will be utilized to keep all of us focused on the job ahead," Clinton added.

Referring to talks between President Obama and Zardari, Clinton said both the countries have made certain commitments, details of which will be announced at the end of the trilateral talks.

Clinton said the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan would certainly improve, though it will take some time before normalcy returns to the region.

"This is simply the beginning of a long process," she added.

She asserted that the revamped AFPAK strategy would help improve the situation considerably, though it might not show results immediately.

"It (the new Af-Pak strategy) may not give you a story every day, but hopefully it will give us all a better story next year and the years to come," Clinton said. (ANI)