US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Joseph Dunford

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's intelligence agency clearly has links with terrorist groups , said the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Joseph Dunford on Tuesday, according to Washington publication The Hill.

US defense secretary James Mattis went a step further and said that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence even "appears to run its own policy".

Both officials were testifying at the US Senate Armed Services Committee on the US's strategy in Afghanistan . On the same day, they also testified at the House Armed Services Committee on the same subject.

"We’ve seen the government of Pakistan come down on terrorists, when the ISI appears to run its own policy," said Mattis, according to Russia Today.

When asked if taking away Pakistan's status as a major non-Nato ally is an option on the table if it doesn't act to immediately to rein in terror, Mattis's response was, "sure it will be."

Pakistan, of course, continues to deny there is state or institutional support for terrorists, but the US isn't buying that falsehood, said Dunford.

"It is clear to me that the Inter-Services Intelligence has connections with terrorist groups," said Dunford, in his testimony at the Senate hearing.

Still, both Dunford and Mattis said they're willing to work with Pakistan "one more time" before taking punitive measures against the country.

"We need to try one more time to make this strategy work with them, by, with and through the Pakistanis, and if our best efforts fail, President (Donald) Trump is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary," said Mattis said at the House hearing, reported The Hill.

The US defense secretary said he'd "like to think we will be successful," in putting pressure on Pakistan, especially with upcoming visits to Islamabad by US assistant secretaries and national security staff to discuss a clampdown on terror.

If nothing else, Mattis believes the fact that Pakistan is getting increasingly isolated diplomatically, which will then affect it economically, should act as some sort of catalyst for action.

"I think that right now with the growing consensus against terrorism, they'll find themselves diplomatically isolated, they'll find themselves economically in increasing trouble as countries that are damaged by this terrorism coming out of there say enough is enough and take steps," he said.

"There's an awful lot of advantage to Pakistan coming on line with the international community."

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