BRUSSELS: In a new development Pakistan has seeked Europe’s help andassistance to re establish ties with ally United States as the relationsbetween the two non NATO allies have reached to a new low after DonaldTrump’s new year tweet.
Pakistan though can comfortably live without US aid and assistance but eventhen it does not want to enter into a new confrontation with the SuperPower.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir who is in Brussels today talkingto a Belgian news channel VRT News,has said, “Europe must help inre-establishing our relationship with the US.”
The defence minister said the Americans wanted to pin the blame for theirmilitary failure in Afghanistan on Pakistan.
“Pakistan is the scapegoat because the US has not been able to get thepeace process in Afghanistan on track for 15 years,” he said, adding thatit was mainly because the Americans only wanted to kill terrorists withouta long-term vision for the country.
“If you don’t try to reconcile the different communities, the war therewill never stop,” he said. “As long as there is no peace in Afghanistan,the situation will remain troubled in Pakistan.”
He went on to say that Islamabad is disappointed with Washington’s changeof policy.
“They are opting for threatening language and think that confrontation willyield more than cooperation,” the defence minister said, adding, “But weare counting on Europe to change US’ mindset [because] if anyone can arouseTrump’s attention, it is Europe and NATO.”
Regarding terrorism in Afghanistan, he said, “We condemn all terror,wherever it occurs and that is why we are now building a fence along theborder with Afghanistan so that we can no longer be accused of lettingterrorists pass unpunished.”
According to the defence minister, it was a pity that the Americans weresuspending their support just now.
“America is now asking us why we are not opening up our large consumermarket to them, with some 207 million Pakistanis,” he said. “But China andEurope did not let us fall in the most difficult moments, and today theyare reaping the benefits. China is helping us in infrastructure works, andboth China and the European Union can supply us with consumer goods.”