US supports Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism: Miller

The US  State Department has said that Washington supports Pakistan’s efforts to deal with terrorism after the country’s cabinet approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.

Premier Shehbaz Sharif has assured that the civilians would not be disturbed and that only intelligence-based operations would be conducted against terrorists.

Mathew Miller, the State Department spokesperson, when asked about the new operation and the US reaction to its announcement, said: “We support Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and protection of human rights.”

During a press briefing, he continued that the US’s partnership with Pakistan on security issues includes its high-level counterterrorism dialogue, including funding robust counterterrorism capacity-building programmes and supporting a series of US-Pakistan military-to-military engagements.

“Pakistani people have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks. No country should have to suffer such acts of terror,” he said, adding that the US and Pakistan have a shared interest in combating threats to regional security.

The decision regarding the operation came after the Apex Committee last Saturday gave the go-ahead for the military operation, which is a reinvigorated and re-energised national counter-terrorism drive, to turn up the heat on militants targeting Pakistan.