WASHINGTON – The US has not seen Pakistan taking sustained and decisiveactions required to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table, a top Trumpadministration official told lawmakers who demanded suspension of allAmerican aid to Pakistan.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central AsiaAlice Wells during a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan told thelawmakers that Pakistan has a particularly crucial role to play in thewar-torn country as without its support it will challenging to achieve theUS’ objectives under the South Asia strategy.ADVERTISEMENT

“While we’ve seen some positive steps, our assessment has been that we havenot seen the sustained and decisive actions that are really required toensure that the Taliban take this peace process seriously,” she said.

“We would like to see Pakistan arrest, expel or bring to the negotiatingtable Taliban leadership,” Wells said in response to a question fromCongresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Ros-Lehtinen, the Congresswoman fromFlorida, asked Wells if she has seen any evidence that Pakistan has takenany steps to cut off the flow of arms, of fighters or support for theTaliban.

“Have we in the US allowed for any waivers or made any exceptions tomilitary assistance to Pakistan since the suspension of the aid wasannounced?” the lawmaker asked.