WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has sent a message to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying that Pakistan’s decision to target all militant groups in the country is “the right policy”.

In an interview to India’s PTI news agency at the White House on Saturday, Mr Obama noted that Mr Sharif recognised insecurity as a threat to Pakistan’s stability and that of the entire region.

In the interview, published in the Indian media on Sunday, Mr Obama once again reminded Pakistan that it “can and must” take more effective action against terrorist groups operating from its soil by “de-legitimising, disrupting and dismantling” their activities.

Mr Obama said he had met Prime Minister Sharif several months ago, referring to Mr Sharif’s visit to the White House in October last year. “He recognises that insecurity in Pakistan is a threat to its own stability and that of the region.”

Mr Obama recalled that after the school massacre in Peshawar, Mr Sharif vowed to target all militants, regardless of their agenda or affiliation. “That’s the right policy. Since then, we’ve seen Pakistan take action against several specific groups.”

Mr Obama also noted that during this period, terrorists also increased their attacks on targets inside the country and urged Pakistan to do more to beat the terrorists.

“We’ve also seen continued terrorism inside Pakistan, such as the recent attack on a university in northwest Pakistan. Still I believe that Pakistan can and must take more effective action against terrorist groups that operate from its territory,” he said.

Mr Obama said that this situation also had created “an opportunity” for Pakistan to “show that it is serious about de-legitimising, disrupting and dismantling terrorist networks”.

He added: “In the region and around the world, there must be zero tolerance for safe havens and terrorists must be brought to justice.”

The US president described the terror attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot as “another example of the inexcusable terrorism that India has endured for too long”.

He noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to his Pakistani counterpart after the attack and both leaders agreed not to allow this incident to further deteriorate already tense relations between their countries.

“Both leaders are advancing a dialogue on how to confront violent extremism and terrorism across the region,” Mr Obama said.

“We join India in condemning the attack, saluting the Indians who fought to prevent more loss of life and extending our condolences to the victims and their families,” he said.

“Tragedies like this also underscore why the US and India continue to be such close partners in fighting terrorism.”

Mr Obama said that the Indo-US relationship could be one of the defining partnerships of the century and noted that Mr Modi had shared his enthusiasm for a strong partnership.

“We have developed a friendship and close working relationship, including our conversations on the new secure lines between our offices,” he said.

Asked if the indo-US relationship had achieved its full potential, Mr Obama said: “Absolutely not.”

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2016