ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisalconfirmed that Pakistan and the US continued to communicate with each otheron various issues of mutual interest at different levels.
“Since, it is being done outside media glare, I cannot share furtherdetails with you,” Faisal replied when asked to share details of suchcontacts.
The back channel efforts came just days after the US suspended the entiresecurity assistance to Pakistan in wake of President Donald Trump’s NewYear tweet in which he accused Islamabad of ‘lies and deceit’.
Washington has stepped up pressure on Islamabad to do more in the fightagainst terrorism. Reports suggest that Pakistan was given ‘specifictargets’ to act on within the stipulated time frame. Pakistan, however, isadamant that it has done enough in the fight against terrorism and thatthere are no organized presence of any militant outfit.
“On the question of the presence of Taliban leadership in Pakistan, wecompletely deny this allegation,” Faisal insisted.
However, he said Pakistan had repeatedly said that it would take action onthe basis of any actionable intelligence and information provided to us.
He said on the basis of intelligence shared with the US, Pakistan had beenable to secure the region and decimate al-Qaeda.
“This has been acknowledged by the US leadership. We have conveyed to theUS that actionable intelligence sharing can help in advancing the sharedgoal of defeating terrorism from the region,” he added.
When his attention was drawn towards the recent statement by DefenceMinsiter Khurrum Dastagir that Pakistan could block key supply lines forthe US forces in response to the Trump administration’s hard line approach,the spokesperson said both sides ‘understand the importance of the lines ofcommunication.’
“Pakistan has been facilitating the US-led mission in Afghanistan throughits ground and air lines of communication for the last sixteen years.Pakistan’s support to the US has been critical in dealing with thechallenges of terrorism in the region,” he said, but stopped short ofsaying that Pakistan was contemplating to withdraw that facility.
He also clarified the remarks of Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif that US wasno more an ally of Pakistan. “Remarks of the foreign minister need to beseen in the proper perspective. The foreign minister was expressing hisfrustration at the unwarranted US accusations against Pakistan and theunilateral decision to suspend the security assistance, despite Pakistan’sextra-ordinary sacrifices and contribution in the war against terrorism,”Faisal explained.
“The provocative statements by the US leadership and Pakistan’s responsehas been measured, as we believe that continued Pak-US cooperation isimportant for the stability of the region, especially Afghanistan,” hestressed.