WASHINGTON: The United States is prepared to partner with Pakistan to
defeat terrorist organisations seeking safe havens, US Secretary of State
Rex Tillerson wrote in an op-ed published in the New York Times on
Wednesday.
In the article titled ‘I Am Proud of Our Diplomacy’, Tillerson gave an
overview of US diplomacy since the Trump administration took over in
January and how the administration was dealing with issues on the foreign
policy front.
According to Secretary Tillerson, the United States’ commitment to stop
terrorism and extremism motivated the Trump administration to adopt a new
South Asia strategy focusing on Afghanistan.
“That country [Afghanistan] cannot become a safe haven for terrorists, as
it was in the days before the Sept. 11 attacks. Pakistan must contribute by
combating terrorist groups on its own soil,” he wrote, before once again
pushing the ‘do more’ mantra, adding that Islamabad “must demonstrate its
desire to partner with us”.
‘Pakistan has done enough’
Pakistan has responded by saying it has already done enough in the US-led
war on terror and “cannot do any more for anyone”.
In a press conference on Thursday, military spokesperson Major General Asif
Ghafoor said no organised infrastructure of a terrorist organisation exists
inside Pakistan.
“We have been saying that Pakistan has fought twice an imposed and imported
war inside Pakistan. We have sacrificed a lot. We have paid a huge price
both in blood and treasure. We have done enough and we cannot do any more
for anyone. Whatever we are doing and shall, will only be done for
Pakistan,” said the Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG
ISPR).
“Had we not supported, al-Qaeda would not have been defeated,” he added.