August 04, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 1 429

COLOMBO, Aug 3: The United States has said it will like to see ‘focussed and good’ intelligence services in Pakistan working on the agenda of reining in terrorism that has become a cause of concern for the country’s neighbours.

US Under-Secretary of State Richard Boucher said at a press conference here on Sunday that his government would want Pakistan to have a ‘good intelligence service’ that worked single-mindedly and in ‘close step’ with other institutions of the country, implying that the current mechanisms could be pursuing an agenda different from that of the government.

“All elements need to be lined up and working in the same direction if Pakistan were to tackle the issue of terrorism,” he said.

Mr Boucher stressed the need for a national consensus in Pakistan on the issue of defeating terrorism.

He said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani looked determined to tackle terrorism and extremism and the US welcomed the initiatives taken by his government.

Mr Boucher said his meeting with Mr Gilani on the sidelines of the Saarc summit was a follow-up of the discussions held during his visit to the US.