A top American military official on Saturday said the US was putting "extraordinary amount of pressure" on Pakistan to take action against Lashkar-e-Toiba and other terror groups operating from its soil. "The US is bringing an extraordinary amount of pressure with respect to that on these groups," Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen told Times Now.
The Admiral was asked if the US was doing as much as it could to address Indian concerns over Pakistan not taking any action against LeT chief Hafiz Saeed for his role in 26/11 terror attacks. "I have seen the Pakistani leadership also recognise that and are taking significant steps over the last couple of years to address that," he added.
Mullen said the American leadership was focusing on issues of LeT and other terror groups and their leadership in Pakistan and safe havens of Afghan Taliban in its territories. "It is a very difficult problem and there is no easy solution to it," he added.
To a query if the US would stand by India's side if Pakistan and China came together against New Delhi, Mullen said the economic, military and security relations between world's two largest democracies were very strong. "I would certainly in future have an expectation that this relationship will be very strong in face of any crisis," he added.
Asked about India's contribution in developing Afghanistan, the US Admiral said though India was not part of the overall Afghan strategy, "what India is doing in that regard (in Afghanistan) is absolutely vital and an important part of the regional aspect." PTI
