US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that it's tragic that terrorism is the main threat to Pakistan but applauded the country's military "what it was doing".
"I think that the Pakistani military is doing what it must do. It is doing everything in its power to help the people of Pakistan. It's just tragic that this threat of terrorism which now the Pakistani intelligence and military services say is the number one threat to Pakistan continue," Clinton told the Geo TV of Pakistan in an interview.
Clinton's brief passing remarks on this issue came days after 'The Wall Street Journal' had reported that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in a recent internal assessment report has concluded that it is terrorism, not India, which poses the most threat to their national security.
"I applaud what the military is doing, but it's very unfortunate that there can't be a cessation of these terrible terrorist attacks and an end to this assault on the people and Government of Pakistan," she said.
Hitting the terrorists outfits hard for continuing attacks despite one-fifth of Pakistan was affected by severe flood, she said that isn't it a tragic commentary that while this terrible natural disaster is happening, there are still terrorist attacks going on? I mean, have they no shame?
"Have they no human caring or sympathy for their fellow Pakistanis that they would continue to assassinate people and blow up targets while millions are fleeing for their lives with their children on their backs? I don't even know how to respond to that," Clinton said.
The Secretary of State said there was a great urgency that the government is trying to bring to bear in confronting this natural disaster, which is truly unprecedented.
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"It's sort of the right of anyone in a democracy, which thank goodness Pakistan is - especially with a free press - to criticize one's government. I know that. I have been in government and I have received a lot of incoming criticism. And government can always do better. Government must do better," she said.
"But at this point in time, the people and institutions of Pakistan must pull together. There's a time to be critical and pointing fingers and trying to score political points, and then there's a time to put that to one side and save lives and rebuild Pakistan. And that's what I hope is happening," Clinton said.