After Kabul Attack, US Asks Pak to Expel Taliban Leaders

A White House statement on this regard came days after the Taliban claimed responsibility for the Kabul hotel siege.

The US has asked Islamabad to immediately arrest or expel Taliban leaders who are carrying out terror activities across the border in Afghanistan and prevent them from using Pakistani territory to support its operations on 22 January.

A White House statement on this regard came days after the Taliban claimed responsibility for a major terror attack at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul that killed at least 22 people.

We call on Pakistan to immediately arrest or expel the Taliban’s leaders and prevent the group from using Pakistani territory to support its operations.

Sarah Sanders, White House Press Secretary

"In Afghanistan, where terrorists attacked a hotel in Kabul, such attacks on civilians only strengthen our resolve to support our Afghan partners," Sanders said.

"We commend the swift and effective response of the Afghan security forces. Afghan forces, with our support, will continue to relentlessly pursue the enemies of Afghanistan, who also seek to export terror around the world," she said.

The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the Kabul terror attack and urged its member countries to “bring to justice the perpetrators of the heinous attack”.

In a presidential statement, the 15-membered body of UN underlined the "need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors" of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.

It urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the government of Afghanistan and all other relevant authorities in this regard.

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