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US to Press Pakistan PM on Afghan Peace, Terrorism Crackdown

Reuters

   WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to press Pakistani
   Prime Minister Imran Khan for help on ending the war in Afghanistan and
   fighting militants when the two leaders meet at the White House on
   Monday amid their countries' strained relations.

   Last year, Trump cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in security
   assistance to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of offering "nothing but
   lies and deceit" while giving safe haven to terrorists, a charge
   angrily rejected by Islamabad.

   Khan, who arrived in Washington on Saturday, is expected to try to mend
   fences and attract much-needed U.S. investment, hoping the arrest last
   week of a militant leader with a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head
   will lead to a warmer reception.

   "The purpose of the visit is to press for concrete cooperation from
   Pakistan to advance the Afghanistan peace process and to encourage
   Pakistan to deepen and sustain its recent effort to crackdown on
   militants and terrorists within its territory," a senior U.S.
   administration official said.

   The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the United
   States wants to make clear to Pakistan that it is open to repairing
   relations if Pakistan changes how it handles "terrorists and
   militants."