ISLAMABAD: The US has said Pakistan still remains a ‘safe harbor’ for regionally-focused terrorist outfits despite taking ‘modest steps’ in 2019 to counter terror financing.

The State Department said the suspension of US aid to Pakistan announced by President Donald Trump in January 2018 has remained in effect throughout 2019.

According to the State Department’s Congressional-mandated annual report 2019 Country Reports on Terrorism, Pakistan took action against externally focused groups, including indicting the Lashkar e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and his associates in terrorism financing cases.

Despite this, Pakistan remained a safe harbor for several regionally focused terrorist groups, it added.
The State Department report said Pakistan allowed factions targeting Afghanistan, as well as groups targeting India, including the LeT, and Jaish-e-Mohammed, to operate from its territory.

The report has said Pakistan failed to take action against other terrorists such as UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar and 2008 Mumbai attack ‘project manager’ Sajid Mir.

(With inputs from Agencies)