To curb Taliban attacks, US needs to focus on Afghanistan: Qureshi

Islamabad, July 16 : Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the US needs to focus on Afghanistan to curb a spurt in attacks by the Taliban as Pakistan has done enough to counter terrorism and extremism by breaking militant networks operating on its soil.

"We have got al Qaeda on the run. To a great extent we have broken many networks in Pakistan and we have banned many organisations in Pakistan. What they (the US) need to concentrate on, in my opinion, is Afghanistan," Qureshi said.

"Afghanistan should acknowledge that there have been serious failings on their side and they need to improve an effort, they need to improve the Afghan government on their side," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

Replying to a question about the US asking Pakistan to do more to counter the activities of Taliban and Al Qaeda militants, Qureshi said: "I think they (the US) should also recognise the successes that we have made. They should also realise the people that we have apprehended."

Noting that there had been an increase in militant attacks across Afghanistan and not just in areas bordering Pakistan, he said this trend "cannot be blamed on Pakistan".

Qureshi's comments came against the backdrop of a bitter spat between Islamabad and Kabul over a wave of attacks in Afghanistan blamed on the Taliban, including the suicide bombing at the Indian embassy in Kabul.

ANI