WASHINGTON (TIP): The United States has proven its will to take the fight to terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a top Obama administration official has said. “I think we have proven our will to take the fight to terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” US treasury secretary Jacob Lew told a Congressional hearing when asked why the US should provide financial aid to the two countries which continue to be safe haven for terrorists.

“I am just asking why we are lending money to… economies in terrorist states,” Congressman Steve Pearce asked. “I think we have been involved through two administrations or multiple administrations of both parties in trying to make sure that there is no haven for terrorists to plan attacks on the United States in that part of the world,” Lew said.

“And our efforts of that are really aimed at making sure that there is not that kind of a haven. Part of it is making sure that there is an economy that works for people who are not (part of terrorist groups),” the treasury secretary said.