Ex-US diplomat calls for designating Pakistan as 'state sponsor of terrorism'

A former United States diplomat has called for designating Pakistan as a "state sponsor of terrorism" and said Islamabad's status as a major non-NATO ally for the U.S. should also be taken away.

"We should begin the process of designating Pakistan as a 'state sponsor of terrorism' and to take away its status as a major non-NATO ally for us," former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad told ANI here.

He also said the Trump administration was open for more cooperation with India on fighting the terrorism.

"India is an important rising power.It is good for the world India is becoming powerful. We should support them and get others to cooperate on the cause," he said.

Khalilzad, who has also been the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, termed Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's statement over Mumbai attack mastermind and global terrorist Hafiz Saeed as very alarming.

Abbasi had earlier said that there was no case registered against Saeed in Islamabad and without it, action cannot be initiated against anyone.

"The time has come for the world to cooperate and India needs to take a leading role with us in orchestrating a global response on Pakistan to take concrete actions," he added.

The former diplomat also asserted the on the need to impose travel and financial restrictions on individuals and states who support and have connections with terrorism.

--ANI