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U.S. worried over revival of banned outfits in Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Nov. 14. In comments that are likely to raise hackles in the Pakistani establishment, the United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Nancy Powell, has said that the U.S. is particularly concerned about re-establishment of banned militant outfits with new names.

Making a presentation on "U.S. Foreign Policy Towards Pakistan" at a meeting organised by the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations, Economic Affairs and Law in Karachi on Thursday, she said Pakistan had taken many steps to prevent extremist groups from crossing the Line of Control in Kashmir but asked for enhancement of the efforts.

It is for the second time that Ms. Powell, a low-key and tight-lipped envoy, has spoken in such direct terms about the concerns of Washington vis-à-vis the efforts of the Government to tackle militancy. Earlier, her observations, at another meeting also in Karachi, that Pakistan should make good on the commitments it had made to end infiltration across the border had come in for sharp criticism from various quarters.

At Thursday's meeting, Ms. Powell said the U.S. was monitoring, together with Pakistan, the effectiveness of the actions taken to curb groups, such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed as these groups posed a serious threat to Pakistan, the region, and the United States.

On Kashmir, she said there was no doubt that violence in the "disputed territory" must be reduced. Ending violence in Kashmir remained a key goal, and the U.S. would continue to look for ways to encourage peace in Kashmir.

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