WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has been looking into a range of newoptions to incrementally pressure Pakistan into acting againstmilitants, *ForeignPolicylink>* reported.
According to the American publication, White House functionaries areweighing unprecedented penalties including revoking the country’s majornon-NATO ally status, permanently cutting off military aid and imposing avisa bars on Pakistani government officials.
However, the magazine claimed the suggestions stimulated internal debate inWashington circles on the “tempo and scale” of the under-considerationmeasures. The publication noted some officials and military men favouredpursuing an aggressive policy while others counselled caution.
These reports come amidst an ongoing shuffle in the Trump cabinet. Foreignpolicy hawk John Bolton was recently appointed National Security Advisorand former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Mike Pompeo replacedRex Tillerson at the US State Department.
These changes could “tilt” the discussion on Pakistan in the Trump innercircle in favour of new measures against Islamabad, according to theAmerican publication.
*Foreign Policy* cited current and former deputies in the White House assaying that drastic measures against Pakistan included punitive actionslike a visa ban on government and security officials from Islamabadallegedly involved in subversive activities.
“We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect US personnel andinterests in the region,” a senior Trump administration official, who spokeon condition of anonymity, told reporters last week.
These reports suggest a shift in American policy towards Pakistan withprevious US presidents being hesitant to push Pakistan too hard.
There have also been murmurings that cutting off aid to the countrypermanently would make it harder for Islamabad to access high-tech militaryhardware, hampering the fight against terrorism in the tribal regionsbordering Afghanistan, emboldening militants and destabilising thenuclear-armed nation.
Pakistan is also important to the peace process in Kabul, as US forces seeka dignified exit from the war-torn country after over a decade of littleprogress.
Two lethal attacks in Kabul in January claimed by the Taliban, occurringonly days after the suspension of US aid was announced and after a tweet byTrump castigating Pakistan, have added urgency to the debate.
*This article originally appeared on**Foreign Policy*link>