As an ‘influential member’ of the international community, the US could prevail upon India to work with Pakistan towards regional peace and economic prosperity, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said at a joint news conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was on a two-day visit to Pakistan for a second edition of the Pak-US Strategic Dialogue.
Aziz said Pakistan wanted a constructive, sustained and result-oriented dialogue with India on all issues of mutual concern. However, he made it clear that a dialogue with New Delhi sidestepping the Kashmir dispute was out of the question.
Kerry’s visit came on the heels of rising tensions between Pakistan and India due to frequent deadly clashes along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary. Pakistan also conveyed concerns to Kerry over India’s ‘dirty games’ and the use of Afghan soil by New Delhi to create unrest in the country.
While Secretary Kerry voiced concerns over the worsening ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, he refused to commit to any US role in de-escalating the situation. A Pakistani official, however, told The Express Tribune that the top US diplomat privately assured his counterparts in Islamabad that his country would take up the matter with India. The official, who didn’t want to be named, said that Kerry was given ‘compelling evidence’ of India’s role in stirring trouble in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s counter-terror operations
The top American diplomat acknowledged that Pakistan’s ongoing military operation in the tribal regions produced ‘significant results’, even as he urged Islamabad to do more in the fight against terror groups posing threat to the country’s neighbours and the world.
He said Pakistan deserved ‘enormous credit’ for the ongoing military operations in North Waziristan and elsewhere. “These operations have already produced significant results but make no mistake that this task is difficult one and it is not done,” Kerry cautioned, adding that all countries, including the US, must deal with terrorist groups effectively.
“Terror groups like the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Taiba and other groups continue to pose a threat not only to Pakistan but to its neighbours, to the United States and to the world,” he added.
Aziz, on his part, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fighting terrorism in all forms and manifestations. “As far as the Haqqani Network is concerned, its infrastructure is totally destroyed after the North Waziristan operation,” he added.
US aid
The US will continue to support Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and other challenges, Kerry said, while announcing $250 million in food, shelter and other assistance to help those displaced by the military operations in the tribal areas.
Aziz expressed hope that US financial assistance would continue as Pakistan is engaged in a counter-terrorism operation. “We expect our defence forces to remain engaged in counter-terrorism operations for some time in the foreseeable future,” he added. “Continuation of Coalition Support Fund reimbursements are therefore a valuable support that must continue in the interests of both countries.”
Kerry visits GHQ
Secretary Kerry also visited the GHQ in Rawalpindi where he met army chief General Raheel Sharif. The military said in a statement that Kerry paid tribute to the security forces for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He was schedule to pay a brief visit to Peshawar’s Army Public School but it was cancelled due to bad weather.
Joint statement
Kerry and Aziz also co-chaired the Strategic Dialogue at the Foreign Office on Tuesday where they reviewed the progress achieved in several working groups to advance bilateral cooperation.
A joint statement issued after the dialogue said Aziz and Kerry held wide-ranging discussions on sustaining and further building the momentum in bilateral cooperation.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to an enduring partnership between Pakistan and the United States, which is vital for regional security and stability. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue for providing vision and direction for a strong and cooperative partnership between the two countries.
They expressed satisfaction that the working groups constituted under the rubric of the Strategic Dialogue contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing shared interests, including in Pakistan’s economic growth, increased trade and energy cooperation, regional stability, and countering extremism and terrorism.
They also acknowledged the importance of ongoing cooperation through assistance authorised under the ‘Kerry-Lugar-Berman’ Act.
Defence and security cooperation
Secretary Kerry and Adviser Aziz agreed that US security assistance has been effective and well deployed to assist Pakistan in its counter-terrorism efforts. Both sides expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the 23rd round of the Defence Consultative Group (DCG) held in Washington in December 2014 and committed to areas for future defence cooperation.
They noted that the DCG working group played a role in strengthening cooperation to support both countries’ security interests. Both sides renewed their mutual commitment to a strong defence relationship.
Regional cooperation
Kerry and Aziz noted that a peaceful, stable, independent, united and prosperous Afghanistan is vital for peace and stability in the region. Kerry welcomed the renewed and intensified engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, including President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Pakistan.
Secretary Kerry encouraged continued dialogue and cooperation between both sides, recognising the importance of cooperation to the stability of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the broader region.
Both delegations recognised that an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process is vital for achieving long-term peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan and the region. They welcomed the call by the new Afghan government to the Afghan Taliban and all armed opposition groups to resolve differences through political means.
Aziz reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to facilitate the efforts of the Afghan government for peace and reconciliation. “Our commitment to Afghanistan not to allow our territory to be used against any other country would not have been possible unless we had undertaken the ongoing military operations,” he added.
