US condemns attack on Pak naval base

WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday condemned a deadly attack on a naval base in Karachi, saying it showed the need for Pak-US cooperation despite differences between both sides.

"We strongly condemn this terrorist attack and we're committed to working with Pakistan... in a joint effort to combat this kind of violent extremism," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. He said no Americans personnel were killed or injured in the attack.

Pakistan regained control of the naval base, 17 hours after heavily armed Taliban gunmen attacked, destroying two US-made surveillance planes and killing 10 personnel.

It was the worst assault on a military base since the army headquarters was besieged in October 2009.

Toner said the attack underscored the need for counterterrorism cooperation between Washington and Islamabad. "It just illustrates that Pakistan is under enormous pressure and threat from these kinds of groups. And they suffer... considerably from this kind of violent extremism," Toner said.

"So it just, frankly, speaks to the ongoing need for close counterterrorism cooperation, even or in spite of some of the questions raised by the bin Laden raid," he added. (AFP)