(Eds: Updating with fresh inputs)By Lalit K JhaWashington, Dec 13 (PTI) Pakistan's political leadershipwould lose control over the country if it does not begin theprocess of changing its relationship with the Haqqani Networkand other terror groups having safe havens there, US Secretaryof State Rex Tillerson has warned.
Tillerson's remarks came amid Trump administration'srepeated calls to Pakistan to do more against terroristoutfits.
"We want to work with Pakistan to stamp out terrorismwithin their boundaries as well, but Pakistan has to begin theprocess of changing its relationship with the Haqqani Networkand with others," Tillerson told a Washington audience.
In his remarks on 'Meeting the Foreign Policy Challengesof 2017 and Beyond' organised by the 2017 Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Forum, Tillerson said that Pakistan'srelationship with the Haqqani Network needs to be altered.
"I understand that this is a relationship that hasemerged probably for, in their view, good reasons a decadeago, but now that relationship has to be altered because ifthey're not careful, Pakistan is going to lose control oftheir own country," he warned.
He said the US was willing to share information with themto be successful.
"But we cannot continue with the status quo, whereterrorist organisations are allowed to find safe haven insideof Pakistan," the top American diplomat warned. Notablydespite repeated warning from the Trump Administration thereis not much impact on PakistanÂ’s attitude towards terroristgroups.
It has been more than two weeks now that the White Houseissued a stern warning to Pakistan and asked Islamabad to re-arrest Hafiz Saeed, the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind.
Tillerson made no reference to this in his speech.
The US and Pakistan have had a long history of goodrelations, but that relationship has really deteriorated overthe past decade, he conceded.
"So now weÂ’re engaged with Pakistan in a conversation toensure our expectations of them are clear, that our concern isreally about Pakistan's stability," he said.
"Pakistan has allowed so many terrorist organisations tofind safe haven within its territories, and theseorganisations are growing in size and influence, that at somepoint I have said to the leadership of Pakistan, you may bethe target, and they turn their attention from Kabul anddecide they like Islamabad as a target better," Tillersonsaid.
The global effort to defeat the Islamic State and theglobal effort to defeat terrorism is one of President DonaldTrump's top priorities, he said.
"The President made a decision and announced the policythat we would remain in Afghanistan, we would remain engagedin the fight to defeat the Taliban, and that the time andeffort would be conditions-based. He said itÂ’s not a blankcheck," Tillerson said.
Separately during a townhall, Tillerson said he does notenjoy dealing with Pakistan.
"Dealing with Pakistan – I don't enjoy that," Tillersonsaid in response to a specific query during the town hall withthe State Department employees here.
His remark, without any further explanation, was inresponse to a question posed by a State Department employeewho asked: "Is it fair to ask and say do you enjoy your job asSecretary of State?""...Pakistan is still an important and valued partner ofthe United States. Over the last decade, the relationship hasdrifted, and we've got to bring this relationship back to oneof common interest," Tillerson said.
Today that's just not the case, he told his StateDepartment colleagues.
"So we're engaged in very frank discussions with Pakistanover the concerns we have about their own stability and theirfuture, and the threat they're under by allowing terroristorganisations to operate in their territory," Tillerson said.
The top US diplomat said the two countries should findways as to how they could work together to bring stability andpeace to the whole region.
"We've got a great team working in that region as well. Alot of work left to do," Tillerson said. PTI LKJ NSA AKJNSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.