WASHINGTON – The United States has once again asked Pakistan to step up itsefforts against terrorism with Pentagon saying there are ‘newopportunities’ that the country should make use of in battling terroroutfits.
Relations between the two countries have soured in recent months with theTrump administration admonishing Islamabad for not doing enough againstterrorism emanating from its soil, and Pakistan insisting it is a victim ofterrorism because of its efforts on ground.
While war of words may have indeed dominated the diplomatic discoursebetween the two countries, both US and Pakistan appear intent on notletting relations deteriorate to a point of no return.
Two days before Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua’s two-day visitto Washington which starts from Tuesday, Pentagon’s chief spokesperson DanaW. White urged Pakistan – once again – to act tough.
“With respect to Pakistan we believe that Pakistan can do more to combatterrorism,” she said. “This is an inflection point and this is anopportunity and Pakistan has an opportunity to do more. They’ve beenvictims of terrorism. So, we’ll look forward to continuing to work withthem to see where there are opportunities.”
A key point of friction between the US and Pakistan has also beenWashington asking New Delhi for an increased role in Afghanistan.
White House however insisted that a greater role for India is not just inthe best interest of Afghanistan but for the entire South Asian region. Shesaid the US continues to consult New Delhi on not just issues related toAfghanistan but also on issues which are for the whole of South Asianregion and even beyond.
Pakistan though remains suspicious about India’s intentions and aboutgrowing ties between the US and India. While relations with India have beenrickety for decades, Pakistan’s relations with the US have been in troubledwaters too – the biggest low coming when President Trump’s first tweet of2018 blasted Pakistan.
The two countries though once again engage to discuss pivotalsecurity-related issues in a bid to repair strain ties.