Clinton seeks 'unequivocal Pakistan action on militants

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday renewed her call on Pakistan to close safe havens for militants, saying the uneasy partner must be unequivocal in its approach. Testifying before Congress after a trip to the region, Clinton said she delivered a frank message to Pakistan that it was urgent to act against the extremist Haqqani network, which she blamed for anti-US attacks in Afghanistan. I explained that trying to distinguish between so-called good terrorists and bad terrorists is ultimately self-defeating and dangerous, Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. No one who targets innocent civilians of any nationality should be tolerated or protected. We look to Pakistan to encourage the Taliban and other insurgents to participate in an Afghan peace process in good faith, both through unequivocal public statements and by closing off the safe havens, she added. Clinton used unusually strong language on last weeks trip, saying that US tolerance has worn thin after indications that the Haqqani network is targeting Americans, including through a 19-hour siege of the US embassy in Kabul.

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