The United States said that Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism as the country has suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks.

Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism, says U.S.

As the US <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/some-countries-proposed-to-put-pakistan-in-fatf-grey-list-india-33126">steps up pressure on Abbasi&#39;s government </a>over terror, Defence secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that there have been &quot;changes in Pakistan&#39;s behaviour&quot;.

&quot;There have <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-government-acted-against-juds-charities-due-to-us-plot-hafiz-saeed-33940">been changes in Pakistan&#39;s behaviour</a> (since the South Asia strategy was announced),&quot; Mattis told reporters, adding,&quot;There are other issues; the fatwa (against suicide bombings) that came out, that came out of Pakistan. That was a step in the right direction.&quot;

Pakistan has been under pressure from the US and its allies over being named in the &quot;grey list&quot; in Financial Action Task Force(FATF), a move which could take place in June.

The US approached the FATF to put Pakistan on global terrorist-financing watch list, accusing Islamabad of not complying with the UN Security Council resolutions relating to terror groups.

&quot;One of the reasons I want to go in is actually talk to the people who are dealing with the border issues right now, dealing with intelligence and what they&#39;re seeing,&quot; Mattis said.

&quot;And then go back and talk with our intelligence agencies in Washington, DC, and put together an assessment of this,&quot; the US defence secretary added.

On the proposed Afghan peace initiative with the Taliban, Mattis said: &quot;At that point, setting the conditions for the diplomats to sit down, and the leadership to sit down and try to get this out of the violence and into the diplomatic stance.&quot;

However, Mattis added despite US efforts to get Taliban on the negotiating table, the US would continue to put military pressure on the terror outfit.

&quot;..You need to have that door open, even as you increase the military pressure and say this is not going to work. You know, to just be setting off bombs,&quot; Mattis observed.

The US approached the FATF to put Pakistan on global terrorist-financing watch list, accusing Islamabad of not complying with the UN Security Council resolutions relating to terror groups

As the US steps up pressure on Abbasi's government over terror, Defence secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that there have been "changes in Pakistan's behaviour". "There have been changes in Pakistan's behaviour (since the South Asia strategy was announced)," Mattis told reporters, adding,"There are other issues; the fatwa (against suicide bombings) that came out, that came out of Pakistan. That was a step in the right direction." Pakistan has been under pressure from the US and its allies over being named in the "grey list" in Financial Action Task Force(FATF), a move which could take place in June. The US approached the FATF to put Pakistan on global terrorist-financing watch list, accusing Islamabad of not complying with the UN Security Council resolutions relating to terror groups. "One of the reasons I want to go in is actually talk to the people who are dealing with the border issues right now, dealing with intelligence and what they're seeing," Mattis said. "And then go back and talk with our intelligence agencies in Washington, DC, and put together an assessment of this," the US defence secretary added. On the proposed Afghan peace initiative with the Taliban, Mattis said: "At that point, setting the conditions for the diplomats to sit down, and the leadership to sit down and try to get this out of the violence and into the diplomatic stance." However, Mattis added despite US efforts to get Taliban on the negotiating table, the US would continue to put military pressure on the terror outfit. "..You need to have that door open, even as you increase the military pressure and say this is not going to work. You know, to just be setting off bombs," Mattis observed.

'Pakistan's behaviour is changing,' says US defense  secretary Jim Mattis

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ready-to-try-one-more-time-with-pakistan-warns-us-defense-secretary-james-mattis-20967">Just hours after US </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ready-to-try-one-more-time-with-pakistan-warns-us-defense-secretary-james-mattis-20967">defense</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ready-to-try-one-more-time-with-pakistan-warns-us-defense-secretary-james-mattis-20967"> secretary James Mattis said</a> the US was prepared to give Pakistan one more try, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson met Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif today.

During the meeting,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-minister-terms-indias-pm-modi-as-a-terrorist-20927"> Pakistan foreign minister informed Tillerson that</a> Islamabad pursued &quot;zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach&quot;&nbsp;in its campaign against &quot;all terrorist and militant groups&quot;, Pakistan daily newspaper Dawn reported.

&quot;In contrast to other countries, the incidences of terrorism in Pakistan has seen a marked decline - with a salutary impact on economic and commercial activity,&quot; Dawn quoted Asif as he spoke to the US secretary of state.

&quot;This was made possible because Pakistan has pursued a zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach in its campaign against all terrorist and militant groups,&quot; he said.

After the meeting, Tillerson said Pakistan was critical to the stability of South Asia. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&quot;We&#39;re going to be working very hard at all levels from the State Department, to the Defense Department, to our intelligence communities, as well as economic, commerce opportunities,&quot; Tillerson said.

The US has been putting pressure on Pakistan to control militant groups in its area especially after President Trump unveiled his Afganistan strategy last month asserting &quot;Pakistan could no longer be silent on safe havens&quot; in its country.

Ahead of foreign minister Asif&#39;s meeting with Tillerson, US defense secretary James Mattis had said US was prepared to give &quot;Pakistan one more try&quot; but if best efforts fail then the &quot;US president was prepared to take whatever steps necessary&quot;.

On aid to Pakistan, the Trump administration had notified the US Congress last month that it was giving $255 million to Pakistan in military assistance only if it cracked down on terror groups.

After the meeting, Tillerson said Pakistan was critical to the stability of South Asia

Just hours after US defense secretary James Mattis said the US was prepared to give Pakistan one more try, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson met Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif today. During the meeting, Pakistan foreign minister informed Tillerson that Islamabad pursued "zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach" in its campaign against "all terrorist and militant groups", Pakistan daily newspaper Dawn reported. "In contrast to other countries, the incidences of terrorism in Pakistan has seen a marked decline - with a salutary impact on economic and commercial activity," Dawn quoted Asif as he spoke to the US secretary of state. "This was made possible because Pakistan has pursued a zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach in its campaign against all terrorist and militant groups," he said. After the meeting, Tillerson said Pakistan was critical to the stability of South Asia. "We're going to be working very hard at all levels from the State Department, to the Defense Department, to our intelligence communities, as well as economic, commerce opportunities," Tillerson said. The US has been putting pressure on Pakistan to control militant groups in its area especially after President Trump unveiled his Afganistan strategy last month asserting "Pakistan could no longer be silent on safe havens" in its country. Ahead of foreign minister Asif's meeting with Tillerson, US defense secretary James Mattis had said US was prepared to give "Pakistan one more try" but if best efforts fail then the "US president was prepared to take whatever steps necessary". On aid to Pakistan, the Trump administration had notified the US Congress last month that it was giving $255 million to Pakistan in military assistance only if it cracked down on terror groups.

Pakistan pursuing zero-tolerance on terror: Pakistan foreign minister Asif to Tillerson

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Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism, says U.S.

'Pakistan's behaviour is changing,' says US defense secretary Jim Mattis

Pakistan pursuing zero-tolerance on terror: Pakistan foreign minister Asif to Tillerson