WASHINGTON – Commander of US Central Command General Joseph Votel, whiletestifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, said “as a statepossessing nuclear weapons that sits at the nexus of Russian, Chinese,Indian, Iranian, and US geopolitical interests, Pakistan will always retainits importance to the US”.
Votel added that any agreement for resolving the now 17-year-old conflictin landlocked Afghanistan would ensure Pakistan’s ‘equities’.
In light of recent efforts between Pakistan, the US, and Afghanistan tohold talks with the Taliban, the top US military official commendedPakistan’s efforts and cooperation with the State Department’s SpecialRepresentative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad.[image: Afghan National Army (ANA) prepare for an operation againstinsurgents in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province. Photo: File/Reuters]
“If Pakistan plays a positive role in achieving a settlement to theconflict in Afghanistan, the US will have opportunity and motive to helpPakistan fulfill that role, as peace in the region is the most importantmutual priority for the U.S. and Pakistan”.
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The CENTCOM chief also identified Afghanistan’s uncertain politicalsituation as the greatest risk to stability in the region and said the USlooks to Pakistan among others to play a constructive role in achievingpeace in Afghanistan and the greater South Asian region.
“Our posture with Pakistan involves supporting our colleagues at theDepartment of State as they pursue a diplomatic solution with Islamabad toend the conflict in Afghanistan while ensuring that Pakistan’s equities areacknowledged and addressed in any future agreement.”
