In India, Kerry takes a dig at Pak, urges to push harder against terrorists

New Delhi: US Secretary of State John Kerry said in New Delhi on Wednesday Pakistan must push harder against groups engaged with extremists, as tension between Pakistan and India rises amid unrest in Kashmir.

"It is clear that Pakistan has work to do in order to push harder against its indigenous groups that are engaged in terrorist activities. They must work with us to help clear sanctuary of bad actors who are affecting not only India-Pakistan relationship but also our ability to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan," Kerry said.

In an address to students of Delhi's Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kerry said that terror groups like Daesh, al-Qaeda, LeT and JeM can't be fought by a single nation alone.

Kerry said that he has discussed with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the issue of taking stronger action against groups such as the Haqqani network and LeT.

"We are working on it. I have been working on this issue very hard. I have had many engagements with Nawaz Sharif. We have been talking on the sanctuaries in the western part of the country, how to deal more effectively with the Haqqani network and the LeT.”

Kerry said Pakistan has fastened the process in the recent months.

On polarisation, Kerry said it is not good anywhere and it reflects intolerance and frustration with governance.

“We have to respect rights of all our citizens irrespective of creed and allow them to protest in peace without fear that they will be jailed for speaking, said Kerry.

When asked about way for India to get permanent UNSC seat, Kerry said there is a way but it is complicated.

Kerry's proposed visit to three religious sites in the city was cancelled due to heavy rains.

Kerry was scheduled to visit the Gauri Shankar temple, Jama Masjid and Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib in the old Delhi area around 11 am.

"The visit had to be cancelled due to heavy rains in Delhi," sources in the US Embassy said.

Kerry, who is on a three-day-visit to India, was supposed to visit the sites yesterday itself but it was postponed. The US leader has had a difficult time with the city's traffic since he landed on Monday night.

His convoy was stuck on Satya Marg in Lutyens Delhi for an hour on Monday by a "spillover effect" owing to water logging in the main carriageways.