News Analysis |
Foreign Secretary (FS) Tehmina Janjua received the US Acting Assistant Secretary of State Ambassador Alice Wells on Monday at the Foreign Office (FO). The Ambassador was accompanied by senior officials from US National Security Council and US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale. The Foreign Secretary was assisted by senior officials of the foreign department.
The US ambassador acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and sought Pakistan’s assistance for stabilization of Afghanistan. The details of the meeting were released in a press briefing by the Foreign Office. The Foreign Secretary insisted on working together with mutual respect and trust.
A number of American officials have denied their President’s allegations and admitted Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism. We can hope to see strengthening of ties between the two nations in the future, rather than them further weakening.
She also informed the US authorities of the recent efforts by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism; she argued that the results are visible throughout the country with the frequency of terrorist attacks greatly reduced in the past few years. Janjua also claimed that Pakistan’s effort to counter terrorism will have its positive effects throughout the region. The FS expressed Pakistan’s reservations of terrorist activities being carried out in Pakistan from the Afghan soil, adding that bilateral border management is imperative for strengthening the ties between the two nations.
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Janjua protested against the recent immature statement by the Indian Army Chief and the increasing aggression of the Indian military on the Line of Control (LoC), she also condemned the Indian mortar attack on the border last night which resulted in the martyrdom of Pakistani soldiers. She requested the US to advice restraint to India since tensions between the two countries have the possibility of escalating to a full scale war.
Steps like these are proof that President Trump’s threats do not hold much weight in Washington and there has been no change of American policy regarding Pakistan.
Ambassador Wells, in response, acknowledged Pakistan’s effort in eradicating terrorism and conveyed US intentions of working with Pakistan regarding Afghanistan in the future. She argued that Pakistan is an immediate neighbor of Afghanistan and US strategic goals cannot be achieved without Pakistan’s assistance. She emphasized the importance of the long standing bilateral relationship between the two countries. The two sides agreed on supporting all peace efforts in Afghanistan.
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US-Pakistan relations hit a new low when US President Donald Trump posted a tweet on New Year’s Day, accusing Pakistan of ‘deceit and lies’ and of harboring terrorists. The US has since banned all military assistance to Pakistan, which amounted to around 2 billion dollars. While there are forces who want to sabotage the relationship between the two countries, there have been continued efforts by both countries.
The details of the meeting were released in a press briefing by the Foreign Office. The Foreign Secretary insisted on working together with mutual respect and trust.
Foreign Office of Pakistan assured the nation that talks are going on between the two countries. DG ISPR also confirmed that Pakistan and US are still allies. General Votel of the United States Central Command called the Chief of the Army Staff General Bajwa and talked about matters of mutual interest. Steps like these are proof that President Trump’s threats do not hold much weight in Washington and there has been no change of American policy regarding Pakistan.
Read more: Internal and external security challenges to Pakistan
A number of American officials have denied their President’s allegations and admitted Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism. We can hope to see strengthening of ties between the two nations in the future, rather than them further weakening.