US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit Islamabad on Tuesday (today) where he would be telling Pakistani officials that their cooperation in fighting extremists and driving them from hideouts on their territory is imperative to a good relationship with the US.
Talking to media persons during his visit to Afghanistan, Tillerson also delivered a blunt warning to Pakistan, insisting that Islamabad must step up action against terrorist groups that have allegedly found safe haven within its borders.
“Clearly, we have to continue to fight against the Taliban, against others, in order for them to understand they will never win a military victory,” Tillerson told a small group of reporters allowed to accompany him from the Qatari capital of Doha.
“We also want to work with regional partners to ensure that there are no threats in the region,” he said.
“This is very much a regional effort as you saw. It was rolled out in the strategy itself, demanding that others deny safe haven to terrorists anywhere in the region. We are working closely with Pakistan as well.”
“It will be based upon whether they take action that we feel is necessary to move the process forward for both creating opportunity for reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan but also ensuring a stable future Pakistan,” he said.
“Pakistan needs to, I think, take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside of Pakistan. So we want to work closely Pakistan to create a more stable and secure Pakistan as well.”
In August Tillerson warned an angry Pakistan that it could lose its status as a privileged military ally if it continued giving safe haven to Afghan militant groups.
Islamabad has long denied Washington’s accusation it is helping the Taliban, adding that the claim belittles the thousands of lives it has lost and billions it has spent in fighting militancy.
What privilege does Pakistan teceive or has reveived as a non Nato alligned partner.
– This was never a strategic role but for US a transactional Client Master
– US never paid for use or damage of Pakistani infrastructure.
– US never even pays for transit routes.
What did Pakistan acheive, I would say nothing but critiscism.
The AID they talk about does not even meet the folloeing:
– Sacrifice of lifes between 70k to 90k Pakistani civilians and soldiers have died.
– Economic losts due to becoming an extended theatre of war. Pakistan had pretty much paid all its IMF lians and was referred to as a Asian tiger economy pre 911.
– Zero support to host Refugees from Afghanistan.
– As a result of American interests in India. Indian terror funding, training in Pakistan constantly ignored and overlooked.
– US support for the most pathetic and redundant governments in our history referring to Zardari and Nawaz Sharif whete Pakistan lost the most on all fronts.
From where I stand US has not been a friend not even a partner.
Pakistan MUST stand it’s ground and if that means officially part with its Cold War ally The US then so be it.
Pakistan will not be opened up to transit trade into India nor should any dialogue happen with India without arbitration and under no circumstance if Kashmiris continue to be displaced and murdered. Kashmir, Sir Creek, Junagadh, Manvadar needs to be at the forefront of discussion before any other matter discussed.
Pakistan itself needs to continue being vocal and market itself better in Europe, US, M.E, Central Asia, SE Asia and Africa.
It is time to shake hands with the US and say thanks but no thanks as much as we have loved US it is clear this administration like the previous shows little sensitivity to Pakistsn strategic and national concerns.