Amid reports that an "accomplice" of Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad has been held in Pakistan, the US has asked the country to do more to combat militancy and warned it of "consequences" if a successful terror attack in America is traced back to its soil.
"We think that there's more that has to be done. And we do fear the consequences of a successful attack that can be traced back to Pakistan, because we value a more comprehensive relationship. So we do expect more," secretary of state Hillary Clinton said at the 'US Institute of Peace', a Washington-based think tank.
Her remarks came as 'The Washington Post' reported that an alleged accomplice of Shahzad had been held in Pakistan and had provided an "independent stream" of evidence linking the Pakistan Taliban to the failed May 1 Times Square attack.
Separately, three Pakistani men, who allegedly supplied funds to Shahzad, were arrested by FBI in a slew of raids across Asian-dominated suburbs in New York, Boston and New Jersey.
Referring to the strategic relationship being developed with Pakistan, Clinton said: "The fact that we have expanded our interactions far beyond the counter-terrorism agenda which was basically what we inherited, that we are focused on trying to create a broader and deeper understanding between our two countries and that we have gone quite a distance in creating a better atmosphere."
Clinton appeared at the institute along with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who concluded his four-day trip to Washington yesterday, to discuss Afghan-US relationship in the context of the latter's visit and the situation in the region.
She also expressed concern over the recent attacks by extremists inside Pakistan. "We are concerned about the recent attacks and other efforts that thankfully have not been successful, just as you heard president Karzai said that he was concerned."
In an apparent reference to the Times Square bombing attempt, in which investigation has pointed to the involvement of Pakistani Taliban, Clinton said the probe is going well between the investigative bodies of the two countries.
"There is a lot of effort that is being undertaken on the Pakistani side to provide information to our teams over here. And we just believe strongly that there is more that Pakistan must do to face what is now a common enemy," the top US diplomat underlined.
