US President Barack Obama has urged Pakistan to show it is "serious" about crushing extremist networks operating on its territory, saying the latest mass killing of students underlined the need for more decisive action. In an interview with the Press Trust of India published on Sunday, Obama praised recent crackdowns by Pakistani security forces but said more should be done to eradicate violent Islamist groups.
"Pakistan has an opportunity to show that it is serious about delegitimising, disrupting and dismantling terrorist networks," Obama told the news agency in Washington.
"In the region and around the world, there must be zero tolerance for safe havens and terrorists must be brought to justice."
Obama said the crackdown on extremists was "the right policy" but was quoted as saying that Pakistan "can and must" take more effective action.
"Since then (Peshawar), we have seen Pakistan take action against several specific groups," said Obama.
"We have also seen continued terrorism inside Pakistan such as the recent attack on the university in north-west Pakistan."
Obama said that attack in Punjab was "another example of the inexcusable terrorism that India has endured for too long".
"Both leaders are advancing a dialogue on how to confront violent extremism and terrorism across the region," Obama said.
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