A top US intelligence official has told lawmakers that Pakistan is "harbouring terrorists" and using them as "reserve" in Afghanistan. Pakistan wants to see an Afghanistan that "does not have heavy Indian influence," Lt Gen Vincent Stewart, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing on worldwide threats.

AFP

"They (Pakistan) view all of the challenges through the lens of an Indian threat," Lt Gen Stewart said.

"So they (Pakistan) hold in reserve terrorist organisations -- if Afghanistan leans towards India, they will no longer be supportive of an idea of a stable and secure Afghanistan that could undermine Pakistan's interest," Lt Gen Stewart said.

AP

He added that Pakistan needs to be convinced that on case they are harbouring any of the Haqqani network members, that it is not in their interest.

"We ought to be working together to go after those 20 terrorist organisations that undermine not just Afghanistan, not just Pakistan, but the entire region," Lt Gen Stewart said. "And so we have to make sure we're pushing them (Pakistan) to do more against the Haqqani network."