ISLAMABAD, JUNE 19, SPA -- Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri, currently visiting the United States, has rejected the allegation that Pakistan is going soft in the war on terror, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported from Washington. Citing Pakistan s sustained and firm counter-terrorism measures over the years and loss of hundreds of its soldiers, he stressed in an interview to CNN that Pakistan has done more than any other country in fighting terrorism. Kasuri dismissed the assertion that Pakistan provided sanctuary to extremists. I strongly reject any suggestion which says that we have given sanctuary, he said whole replying a question vis-a-vis allegation that the Taliban had sanctuary along Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. Answering another question, the foreign minister wondered what more should Pakistan be doing when it has been consistently combating terrorists and lost more soldiers in fighting them in the border region than NATO and international forces combined on the Afghan side. Kasuri said Washington is not pressing Pakistan to do more but is appreciative of its efforts to curb terrorism. I met Secretary Dr Condoleezza Rice. She understands what we are doing. People who understand what we are doing don t press because they know how much we are doing, he stated referring to close intelligence cooperation and a high degree of trust between the two sides. The foreign minister said Pakistan s strategic assets are safe and ruled out the possibility of their falling into wrong hands.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/460276