The United States administration has reiterated its demand that the Afghan Taliban ensure that Afghan soil was not used for terrorist attacks.

“And yes, we do continue to urge the Taliban to ensure that terrorist attacks are not launched from the – from Afghan soil,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in response to a query at the press briefing in Washington on Tuesday.

“That has been a priority for us in engagements with them, and it continues to be.”

He was responding to a question about security personnel martyred in an exchange of fire with the terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on July 15. Pakistan has claimed that such terrorists coming from the safe haven in Afghanistan, but the interim Afghan setup has denied such claims in the past.

Militants attacked the military base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu on Monday, ramming a vehicle loaded with explosives into the perimeter wall. Eight security force members were martyred in the attack.

At least 10 terrorists were also killed as the security forces repulsed the attack. Later, two soldiers were martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists while responding to a clearance operation in Dera Ismail Khan’s Kirri Shamozai rural health centre.

The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which Pakistan’s military said operates out of neighbouring Afghanistan.

Miller was asked whether the US have some concerns and concerns with the persons who took responsibility or who took guarantees in the Doha Agreement that they would not let them use the soil against the neighbouring Pakistan.

In his response, the US State Department spokesperson acknowledged that Pakistan has suffered because of the terrorist attacks.

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“Sure. So I’ll first say that, of course, the Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of violent extremists and terrorists. We have a shared interest with the Pakistani people and the Government of Pakistan in combating threats to regional security,” he said and added the US administration has been demanding the interim Afghan government take action against extremists in the country.

When asked about the US support for Pakistan’s economy, he said: “Pakistan continues to be a close partner that we work with on a number of important matters, including improving the Pakistan economy. You’ve heard me speak a number of times to the importance of securing an IMF facility and Pakistan making reforms in that regard, and we’ll continue to do so.”