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Clinton clarifies 'serious consequences' remark by saying Pak must hit 'common enemy'

By samyuktha
|
Google Oneindia News

Washington, May 15 (ANI): While doing nothing to 'clarify' her recent 'serious consequences' warning over attacks in the US by Pakistan based militants, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton once again stressed that Islamabad has to do more against what she described as a 'common enemy'.

Clinton reiterated that militants breeding on Pakistan's soil are a matter of great concern for the Obama Administration.

Speaking at the US Institute of Peace, Clinton told a gathering of experts that though Pakistan has been assisting America in the probe concerning the botched Times Square bombing, there is more that it has to do to tackle the scourge of terrorism in that country.

"There is a lot of effort that is being undertaken on the Pakistani side to provide information to our teams over here. And we just believe strongly that there is more that Pakistan must do to face what is now a common enemy," The Daily Times quoted Clinton, as saying.

"The attacks by the extremists inside Pakistan are no longer aimed across their borders. They are aimed at destroying and killing people in mosques, in markets, in every walk of society. So this is a matter of great concern to the American people and to our government," she added when asked to clarify her earlier comment that Pakistan would have to face "severe consequences" if terrorists from that country succeed in attacking the US in future.

Clinton explained that the relationship between Islamabad and Washington goes far beyond the counter-terrorism programme, so it (Pakistan) it must realise that any terror attack emanating from that country would have far reaching effects.

"I started by talking about the importance of the strategic relationship we are developing with Pakistan, the fact that we have expanded our interactions far beyond the counterterrorism agenda, that we are focused on trying to create a broader and deeper understanding between the two countries," Clinton said, when asked as to what her blunt talk during the CBS interview meant.

It may be noted that following Clinton's diatribe, the top brass of the Obama Administration had went into a damage control mode, saying Washington is 'satisfied' with Islamabad's cooperation in the probe into the botched Times Square bombing plot, and that her remarks were misreported by the media.

Richard Holbrooke, President Obama's Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Holbrooke had clarified that Clinton's remarks were "misconstrued".

"We think our relations with Pakistan have improved greatly in the last year. Clinton herself praised the Pakistan government for what it has done. And so I urge you to not to react to a misrepresentation of what she said," Holbrooke had said.(ANI)

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