The United States warns Pakistan that its tolerance of cross-border terror has to end. A message conveyed by the  Obama administration to the Pakistani government, says Islamabad has to make a decisive shift in its policy of tolerance towards externally-focused groups.

The United States Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Olson made these comments to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Olson, who was the US ambassador in Islamabad before taking up his current position, said that, "US officials have been very clear with the most senior Pakistani leadership that Pakistan must target all militant groups without discrimination including those that target Pakistan's neighbors and close all safe havens."

According to Olson, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan experienced a "significant improvement" when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani came to power but they "peaked and troughed" over the past year due to critical issues, including refugees, border management and counter-terrorism.

"We support this mechanism and believe that more bilateral dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan will increase prospects for mutual understanding, regional peace and stability," Olson said.

“While the progress Pakistan has made through its recent operations is laudable, its struggle with terrorism will not come to an end until it makes a decisive shift in its policy of tolerance towards externally-focused groups," Olson warned.

"We welcomed India's provision of training and non-lethal security assistance to Afghanistan and its significant development contributions over the past decade-plus," he said.

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Nandini