WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhryhas said that in spite of current strains in bilateral ties, there is aclear realization on both sides for the imperatives of working together inpursuit of shared objectives of eliminating terrorism and stabilizingAfghanistan.
He said both Pakistan and the United States have high stakes in peace andstability in the region which is also critical to ensuring world peace.Citing the long history of friendship between the two allies, he expressedthe optimism that leadership in the two countries would be able to find acommon ground, without compromising their vital national interests.
In a wide-ranging interview with APP that covered the recent developmentsin the bilateral ties in the wake of President Trump’s decision to cut-offsecurity aid, the Ambassador said that he had met several Congressmen,Senators and other government officials and many of them appreciate theneed for Pakistan and the US to work together for shared objectives.
The Ambassador stated that despite a decision by the Trump administrationto withhold security assistance, Pakistan would continue to assist the USin supporting its troops in Afghanistan, which are struggling to stemTaliban advances, as it was important for fighting terrorism.
“Pakistan and the United States are fighting a common enemy,” theAmbassador said. “We don’t have any choice but to work with each other fora common cause.” But, he emphasized that Pakistan cannot be made ascapegoat for the US and Afghan failures.
“Pakistan also needs to have good relations with all countries, includingthe United States, but such relationship should be honorable and based onmutual respect,” the Ambassador said.
The Ambassador said that Pakistan has made it clear to Washington that itdid not need any aid. He said, the fact of the matter is, US wasreimbursing expenses that Pakistan incurred in the fight against terrorism,which has now been withheld.
The Ambassador said that Pakistan suffered most from the menace ofterrorism with colossal human and economic losses, but that has steeled itsresolve against terrorism. “Resolute military operations in the tribalregion along the Afghan border have reversed the tide of terrorism andterrorists are on the run.”
He said that those hiding are being chased through intelligence-basedoperation “Raddul Fasaad” Some terrorists have taken refuge in Afghanistanfrom where they now plot action against Pakistan and US troops in theregion, he added.
Ambassador Chaudhry, however, observed that there was no military solutionto the long-running war in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan has clearly statedthat it would fully support an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process torestore peace in the war-torn country.
The Ambassador recalled that Pakistan took the ice-breaking initiative whenit brokered and hosted the first direct meeting between Taliban and theAfghan government on its soil in July, 2015.
While, the first round made progress, the news of Mullah Omar’s deathleaked just a day before the second round, threw the whole process intouncertainty. Even the second attempt for reconciliation by four Nationgroup called QCG stalled after Taliban leader was killed by a drone strikein May 2016.
To a question, Ambassador Chaudhry said that Pakistan’s leverage overTaliban has eroded over time and, while Islamabad would do all it can tofacilitate a reconciliation process, “it would not help to raise the“expectations bar” too high. “ We need peace in Afghanistan as much as theUS or Afghanistan does. There cannot be peace in Pakistan without peace inAfghanistan,” he added.
Replying to a question, the Ambassador stated that Pakistan’s political andmilitary leadership were on the same page on the matters of nationalsecurity, and cited a unified national response to the US aid-cutannouncement.
When asked to comment on the US stance, the Ambassador strongly refuted theallegations of Pakistan harboring terrorists and providing safe havens toany extremist group. “There is a national consensus on defeating terrorismon the country’s soil and the military has targeted all terrorist groupswithout any discrimination.”
“Pakistan is squeezing space on those remaining who have morphed intoAfghan refugee camps,” said the Ambassador, adding that Pakistan wants torepatriate all Afghan refugees to their country as it was adding to thecountry’s security challenges.
The Ambassador observed that since the border is porous, many terroriststake advantage of that to move across the border on both sides. As far asPakistan is concerned, the government is now fencing the 800 kilometerfence-able stretch to control the 2600 kilometer border area and preventany illegal cross-over.
Where fencing was not possible, Pakistan is setting up posts to man theborder region, he added. To the contrary, there is not a single Afghansoldier or post to man hundreds of kilometers of the border.
To a question, the Ambassador stated that the Trump administration soughtmore Indian involvement in Afghanistan under its new South Asia strategybut, he added, instead, India has increased its intelligence presence inthat country which New Delhi was using against Pakistan.
Replying to a question about the apprehension as echoed by some quarters inthe United States from time to time about the possibility of Pakistan’snuclear weapons falling into wrong hands, the Ambassador categoricallyrejected any such insinuation.
He said the country had a strong command-and-control system for its nuclearweapons that was fully in place. “Our nuclear program is purely fordeterrence purpose and will never be compromised.”
Again underscoring the need for Pakistan and the United States to cooperateclosely, the Ambassador said that Pakistani Americans are contributing toconvey Pakistan’s point of view to their friends in Congress and theadministration. – APP