Want Pakistan to combat, delegitimise terror entities: US NSA to Ajit Doval

WASHINGTON: US wants Pakistan to "combat and delegitimise" UN-designated terrorist entities, including LeT and JeM, National Security Advisor Susan Rice told her Indian counterpart Ajit Doval amidst the war of words between India and Pakistan after the "cross-border" Uri terror attack leading to India pulling out of the SAARC Summit.

Rice spoke to Doval yesterday and "strongly condemned the September 18 cross-border attack on the Indian Army Brigade headquarters in Uri and offered condolences to the victims and their families," US National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said in a press statement.

"Ambassador Rice reiterated our expectation that Pakistan take effective action to combat and delegitimise United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, and their affiliates," Price said.

She affirmed President (Barack) Obama's commitment to redouble America's efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism throughout the world, Price said.

"Ambassador Rice discussed our shared commitment with India to pursue regional peace and stability and pledged to deepen collaboration on counter-terrorism matters including on UN terrorist designations," Price added.

India has blamed Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM for the attack in Uri. In the backdrop of the heightened tension with Pakistan over Uri terror attack, India on Tuesday announced its decision to not participate in the SAARC Summit, citing increased "cross-border" attacks.

Other Pakistan-based terror group LeT has been accused by India of attacking military and civilian targets in the country, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attack.

India wants UN to impose sanctions on JeM chief Masood Azhar. Hafiz Saeed, a co-founder of LeT and the chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawah, carries a bounty of USD 10 million on his head for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed.