US hears Pakistan’s concerns over terrorism from Afghanistan, would play ‘productive role’ if there is one: Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday said that Washington has “heard” Pakistan’s concerns about terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and if “there’s a productive role for us to play, we would play it”. Rubio’s statement came in response to a question about tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan at a press talks in Atlanta. “Pakistan is concerned about terrorist attacks that are being sponsored from the territory of Afghanistan. They feel as if the Taliban have not done enough to constrain those attacks, and they have taken action against it. “We obviously have heard those concerns on their part. We obviously don’t want them to be targeted for terrorism. So if there’s a productive role for us to play, we would play it,” Rubio said.

Mentioning that the US did not “necessarily [have] the closest relationship” with the Afghan Taliban, Rubio added: “We’ve heard the concerns that Pakistan has raised and we’ve seen some of those attacks that they point to. We’re against terrorism no matter where it emanates from and who it targets. ” Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), that it says are used for attacks in Pakistan. For their part, the Afghan Taliban have avoided taking a categorical position on the TTP and other groups, while rejecting Islamabad’s allegations that Afghanistan is being used as a base for attacks against Pakistan. On Saturday, Pakistan’s information ministry rebuked the Afghan Taliban’s stance on the ongoing conflict between the two countries, assailing its “persistent refusal to address terrorism” emanating from Afghanistan’s soil. The statement came in response to remarks made by Afghan Taliban…