Islamabad: US has expressed concern over resurfacing of the banned jihadi outfits Jaish-e-Muhammad and Lashker-e-Toiba with new names even as it asked Pakistan to normalise relations with India by improving political and trade links.

"The United States together with Pakistan monitored the effectiveness of actions taken to curb the banned jihadi groups Lashker-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad as they posed a serious threat to Pakistan, US and the region," US Ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell said.

"We are particularly concerned that these banned organisations are re-establishing themselves with new names," Powell said while making a presentation on "US Foreign Policy Towards Pakistan", organised by the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations yesterday (Nov 13).

Powell said that Pakistan had taken many steps to prevent extremist groups from crossing the Line of Control into Jammu and Kashmir but asked Islamabad to enhance the efforts to put an end to it.

She also said the level of the violence in Jammu and Kashmir should come down in order to find a permanent solution to Kashmir issue.

"A lasting solution to this difficult issue could only come through political dialogue and negotiation, not through violence," she said, adding a permanent end to violence in Kashmir remained a key goal for US.

Turning to Pakistan's ties with India, Powell urged Islamabad to normalise ties with New Delhi by improving trade, communication and political links.

PTI