Branding Taliban as "ruthless killers," the US has said the militants' demand for tax from the minority Sikh community in Pakistan's tribal belt was not surprising and provided all the more reason for international community to cooperate to rid the region of extremists.
"I've heard reports about that. It doesn't surprise me. I mean, these are ruthless killers, the Taliban," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters when asked about Taliban's demand for "Jiziya" or tax from Sikhs in Pakistan's tribal region forcing them to leave their homes.
"They (the Taliban) will do anything they can to upset Pakistan's and Afghanistan's fragile democracies," he said.
Taking note of the reports, New Delhi had also summoned a diplomat of Pakistan High Commission on Friday to register its concern over the development.
"As I said, I've heard these reports. They're not surprising. This is why it's important that we, the international community, cooperate in trying to rid this region of these extremists. And the sooner we can accomplish that mission, the better," Wood told reporters.
