John Kerry calls for action against Afghan Taliban, Haqqani network

The U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, Tuesday called for action against all militant groups including the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network and the Lashkar- e-Tayyeba.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistani Foreign Ministry Affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz, in Islamabad, John Kerry said there should be no discrimination in fighting terror groups. "We want all terrorist groups that target Afghan and U.S. allies be targeted,"John Kerry said after co-chairing Strategic Dialogue with Pakistan and meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his two-day visit.

He praised Pakistani leadership for launching a major offensive against the armed groups in North Waziristan tribal region. The military had started the operation codenamed"Zarb-e-Azab"in June after peace talks with the Taliban failed. "Operation Zarb-e-Azb is achieving results in North Waziristan. Pakistani military forces deserve a tremendous amount of credit," Kerry said.

He said Pakistan initiated a costly operation against the militants, specially the Haqqani networks. He said the United States will continue its cooperation with Pakistan in fight against terrorism.

The U.S. had long been complaining that the al-Qaeda, Haqqani Network and Afghan Taliban use North Waziristan as launching pad for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

Kerry said 258 million dollars will be allocated for the resettlement of Temporary Displaced Persons of North Waziristan.

On Afghanistan, he said the U.S. role in Afghanistan is changing and not ending. He said the U.S. will continue support to the Afghan gov't in training of the country's security forces.

On his part, the Pakistani adviser, Sartaj Aziz, said that Pakistani forces have destroyed the Haqqani Network following the military operation. "Action against all terrorists groups continues indiscriminately,"Aziz said while speaking along John Kerry after their official talks at the Foreign Ministry.

The U.S. Secretary of State arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a two-day visit after visiting India where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral issues, including regional security and India tensions with Pakistan.

John Kerry said he is deeply concerned over the recent violence on the border between Pakistan and India and pressed the two uneasy neighbors to find a diplomatic solution. "We continue to be deeply concerned by the recent spate of increased violence along the working boundary and the line of control,"he said. "It is profoundly in the interests of Pakistan and India to move this relationship forward,"he said.

On bilateral relations, Secretary Kerry said Washington will continue support to Pakistan in several areas including energy and investment. "Our common interests are clear: defeating terrorism, building prosperity and creating the kind of social and political stability to last,"he said. "It is also about building on the opportunities we have to create ties that will make both countries more successful and prosperous,"Kerry added. "The relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. is not only about the threats we face,"he said. "America stands with Pakistani people as they build a future free from threat of violent extremism, wherever and whenever it occurs."

Aziz said that both sides discussed wide range of issues including cooperation in economy, energy, nuclear issues, counter- terrorism and law enforcement.

He said a new working group on education, science and technology is also constituted under the framework of strategic dialogue. Endi