WASHINGTON: US Central Command chief General Joseph Votel has assured thehead of Pakistan’s army that Washington “is not contemplating anyunilateral action” inside the country, a statement from the Pakistanimilitary said Friday.
Votel, who spoke to General Qamar Javed Bajwa by telephone “over the week”,also said that the “on-going turbulence” around a tweet by Donald Trumpsuspending aid to the country was “a temporary phase”, according to thestatement.
The statement came after Trump froze up to $1.9 billion in funding toPakistan, in a move designed to force its military and intelligenceapparatus to halt its support for the Afghan Taliban and other Islamistgroups.
The move, first announced by Trump in a New Year’s Day tweet, sparkedindignation in Pakistan, which has long denied the US accusations ofmilitant support, and accused Washington of dismissing the sacrifices ithas made in the war on extremism.
It also ignited speculation that the US could resume drone strikes orlaunch operations along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, where militantgroups once operated with impunity.
The Pakistani military said both Votel and an unnamed US senator phonedBajwa to discuss security cooperation “over the week”.
“The General said that US values Pakistan’s role towards war on terror andexpected that on-going turbulence remains a temporary phase”, the statementsaid.
Votel also told Bajwa the “US is not contemplating any unilateral actioninside Pakistan”, it continued.
For his part Bajwa told Votel that the “entire Pakistani nation feltbetrayed” over the US statements, but insisted Pakistan would continue tosupport peace efforts in the region despite being made a “scapegoat”.
He also said that Pakistan would not seek to unfreeze the funding, but does“expect honourable recognition of our contributions, sacrifices andunwavering resolve in fight against terrorism”.
Spokesman Colonel John Thomas said Centcom is in “continuous communication”with the Pakistan military, including recurring conversations between Voteland Bajwa.
“We value mutual understanding of interests and concerns that we need toconsider that might lead to a positive path forward,” Thomas told AFP.
Trump has been less charitable towards Pakistan.
“They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with littlehelp. No more!” he wrote in his New Year’s Day tweet, referring to Pakistan.
Officials said the administration had frozen payments from the “coalitionsupport fund” set aside to reimburse Pakistani spending on counter-terroroperations, worth $900 million.
Also in question is almost $1 billion of US military equipment that hasallowed Pakistan access to advanced military technology. -AFP