ISLAMABAD – The United States Monday asked Pakistan to make the life ofTaliban difficult for pushing them to talks table and improve prospects ofpeace in Afghanistan.
US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and CentralAsian Affairs Alice Wells, who arrived here earlier in the day, met ForeignSecretary Tehmina Janjua to discuss the regional situation and efforts forpeace in Afghanistan.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation that Wells had a‘polite message’ but she definitely repeated the age-old mantra of the US -asking Pakistan to ‘do more.’
One official said: “Wells made it clear that for peace in Afghanistan,Pakistan had to play a more proactive role. She said the US doesacknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices but the job was still not done.”
Another official said Tehmina Janjua presented Pakistan’s point of view andhighlighted the nation’s losses in the war on terror. “She asked the USenvoy to understand Pakistan’s position instead of making more demands whenone job is done,” he added.
Alice Wells, who was in Afghanistan before the visit to Pakistan, had saidbefore flying to Islamabad that Pakistan needed to do more on Taliban andtake decisive action. She pressed Pakistan to squeeze the Taliban.
Wells underscored continued US support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-ownedpeace process and the need for an honourable and dignified path to endingthe conflict.
Last month, Pakistan had told the US that it had done enough against terrorand being ‘on notice’ was unfair. This was also a reaction to Well’sstatement that Pakistan was still ‘on notice.’
In an official testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee,Ambassador Wells had said the US expected unequivocal cooperation in endingthe sanctuaries of Taliban in Pakistan.
“Pakistan is on notice that we expect its unequivocal cooperation endingsanctuaries that the Taliban have enjoyed since the remnants of theirtoppled regime fled into Pakistan in 2001,” she said but added thatPakistan can play an important role in the Afghan peace process.
Her statement had come after Pak-US relation showed signs of improvement.Last month, Pakistan and the US had agreed to jointly achieve commontargets of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
On June 7, US Vice president Mike Pence telephoned Caretaker Prime MinisterNasirul Mulk to discuss the bilateral ties and the regional situation. Onthe same day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo telephoned Chief of ArmyStaff Qamar Javed Bajwa and sought Pakistan’s cooperation in politicalreconciliation in Afghanistan.
There was no official word from the military about the telephonicconversation but officials said that Pompeo and Bajwa discussed the needfor political reconciliation in Afghanistan.
The US stepped up efforts seeking political reconciliation in Afghanistanafter Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced a ceasefire with the Talibanahead of Eidul Fitr celebrated on June 16.
In May, the two countries had imposed tit-for-tat travel restrictions oneach other’s diplomats suggesting a new low in their troubled ties.
Pakistan hosted the first direct peace talks between Kabul and the Talibanin 2015 but they ended when Kabul announced the death of Taliban founderMullah Mohammed Omar.
Pak-US ties have been frosty for several months. In January, the USsuspended security assistance to Pakistan targeting the Coalition SupportFund. Pakistan responded sharply saying it was not dependent on US aid forthe war on terror.
The foreign ministry said Pakistan had fought the war against terrorismlargely from its own resources which has cost over $120 billion in 15 years.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammed Faisal said Islamabad andWashington were working to mend fences as confidence level was improving.
He said Pakistan and the US were in contact to defuse the tension. “Theconfidence level is on an upward trajectory. The two countries are incontact to promote the bilateral ties,” he added.
Before the Janjua-Wells talks, Pakistan strongly condemned the terroristattack in Afghanistan’s city Jalalabad, killing and injuring manycivilians. Dr Faisal said: “We are distressed and grieved at the loss ofprecious human lives.”
He said Pakistan expresses our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolencesto the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and pray forearly recovery of the injured.
Separately, a ceremony to mark the opening of a new consular facility,offices and residences was held at the US embassy in Islamabad yesterday.
US Ambassador David Hale, Alice Wells and Bureau of Overseas BuildingsOperations Project Director Tracy Thomas participated in the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Hale said the new embassy provided amodern and environmentally sustainable platform for diplomacy between thetwo nations. He said it represented an enduring American commitment to thePakistani people.