ISLAMABAD – Washington and Islamabad are quietly engaged in diplomacy toaddress their fast deteriorating relationship.
Foreign Office spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal on Thursday disclosed thatPakistan and the United States were engaged in negotiations, which are“ongoing and outside public domain” and that cooperation with the US hasremained unaffected despite recent developments.
He did not go into details and only said that no demands were being madefrom the US in the negotiations.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells this week visitedPakistan during which she renewed the demand for clearing Pakistaniterritory of alleged terror sanctuaries. Earlier US Centcom chief GenJoseph Votel had reached out to Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Bajwa forcalming the frayed nerves at General Headquarters (GHQ).
The information publicly shared by both sides about these interactionscreated the perception that the second attempt at salvaging therelationship after the US leadership’s rhetoric against Pakistan followingthe announcement of the new policy on South Asia and Afghanistan was notgoing well.
This impression was reinforced by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who toldthe Senate Foreign Affairs Committee that there was no change in thesituation because the US was sticking to its position. It should berecalled that the earlier engagement process that started with a meetingbetween Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and US Vice President MichaelPence on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly ended last month withoutachieving a breakthrough.
The common ground has, however, remained elusive. At the same time, thebitterness in the tone of the US leadership has increased and more latelythe Trump administration has started taking punitive actions againstPakistan suspending the security aid package.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that for meaningfully addressing theterrorism concerns, the US should facilitate the repatriation of Afghanrefugees in Pakistan and fencing of the Pak-Afghan border.
Responding to a question about Pakistan curtailing intelligence sharingwith the US after President Trump’s new tweet and suspension of securityassistance, Dr Faisal said: “Cooperation in all areas continues with theUS”.
Meanwhile, speaking about the #FreeKarachi campaign in Washington, thespokesman said the government had taken a serious note of this “smearingcampaign” in different US cities.
He said the matter had been raised by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua inher meeting with Ms Wells. Pakistan’s embassy in Washington has also beeninstructed to raise the issue with US authorities to prevent recurrence ofsuch activities.