WASHINGTON: The new US plan to use the UN Security Council pressure againstPakistan is likely to fail because of Pakistan’s alliance with the regionaland global powers like China and Russia.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday stressed the Kabul government wantsworld powers to step up pressure on Pakistan.
Haley joined the 14 other council envoys for talks with top Afghan leadersin Kabul at the weekend as the government considers holding peace talkswith the Taliban to end decades of insurgency.
“They feel confident that the Taliban will be coming to the table,” Haleytold reporters at UN headquarters. While the peace talks will beAfghan-led, the Kabul government did request that the Security Councilweigh in to bring Pakistan onboard.
“They did ask us for consensus to put further pressure on Pakistan to cometo the table and change their behaviour,” Haley said.
The Afghan government is making strides towards stability, she said, and“continue to make ten steps forward and with Pakistan they feel like theycontinue to take steps backwards.” “As long as they are supportingterrorism in Pakistan, the Afghan community is continuing to feel it is notsafe,” she said.
Haley did not specify what measures could be taken to pressure Pakistan,but the council does have the power to impose sanctions.
Pakistan has long been accused of supporting the Taliban and variousmilitant groups in Afghanistan — charges it denies.
President Donald Trump has frozen US payments of military aid to Pakistan,worth $900 million, saying Pakistan is not doing enough to target AfghanTaliban and the Haqqani guerrilla group.
A question mark also hangs over a further $1 billion of US militaryequipment for Pakistan.
US officials believe that Pakistan’s intelligence agency and military havelong helped fund and arm the Taliban to counter rising Indian influence inAfghanistan, whose government is backed by the US.
The Afghan government also requested council help to address narcoticsproduction and trafficking, looking at “every country that moves them,”said Haley.
The council visit — the first since 2010 — comes as the government holds aconference next month to present its strategy for reaching a settlementwith armed groups.
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Kairat Umarov, who led the council trip, saidparliamentary elections must take place this year and be transparent “toensure the credibility of the government” and “prevent furtherdestabilization.”