The Unites States of America has said that Pakistan needs to target all terror groups, including those that target neighboring countries.

The comment came after the speech of the external affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the United Nations General Assembly session wherein she asked the world to act against countries harbouring terrorists.

The US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said that, "Our focus with Pakistan is to enhance their capability, as I just said, to deal with a terrorist threat on their soil."

"They're fighting a serious and sustained campaign against violent extremism," he said.

"We do believe that they're making progress, that they're taking steps to counter terrorist violence, but at the same time we've been very clear that they need to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistan's neighbors, and close all safe havens."

"I think our longstanding position is that we believe India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations between them and practical cooperation between them, and we encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions," he said.

"Well, if the insinuation is that there's some kind of tit-for-tat or Great Game being played out here, that's not at all the case. Look, we've long said with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, there's no zero-sum game here," Toner said.

"They (India) are the world's largest democracy and we share, I think, a very similar vision of the world," Toner said.

"And we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation."

Also Read: Befitting reply by Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan!

Nandini