US says Taliban polio vaccine ban in Pak horrific

Washington, June 20 (ANI): The United States has described as horrific the Taliban's diktat of imposing a ban on distribution of polio vaccine in the northwest tribal regions of Pakistan until/unless drone strikes are stopped by the U.S.

State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said: Well, I hadn't seen that statement. But if it is as you describe, it's a horrific decision by the Taliban. And I'm sure that Afghan forces working with ISAF will ensure that they can't implement it. I mean, why would you take out your frustrations on the children of Afghanistan? That's just brutal and cruel."

She further said that Washington has been consistent in telling the Pakistan Government that terrorist elements like the Taliban "are as much a threat to Pakistan as they are to Afghanistan or anybody else. And, if they're now taking it - taking their horrific actions to the children of Pakistan, then everybody needs to think hard about that." (ANI)