ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has reportedly warned the United States againstmounting a strong offensive against Taliban in Afghanistan, stating thatanything that less than complete success would lead to the terrorist outfitmaking strongholds in the mountainous regions along the border withPakistan.
Quoting diplomatic sources in the country, Dawn reported that theIslamabad said failure to strike a deadly blow to Taliban would lead to acomplete crumbling of any chances of talks.
Urging that the first line of action should be talks rather than attack,authorities here have learned to have told their counterparts in Washingtonto strongly re-think a proposed plan of two-pronged military offensive.
The US in recent months has accused Pakistan of not acting againsthome-grown terror outfits. The two countries previously have been allies inthe war on terror in the region but the Donald Trump administration hascharged Pakistan for its ‘lies and deceit.’
Relations between the two nations have soured with the Americans warningthat if Pakistan does not act, the US will do so unilaterally – promptingPakistani officials to issue terse statements.
Pakistan has also warned about the US asking India to play a more activerole in Afghanistan although New Delhi has made it clear its work herewould not involve its armed forces. Nonetheless, Pakistan sees no Indianrole in Afghanistan at all. “We don’t foresee any political or militaryrole for India in Afghanistan,” Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid KhaqanAbbasi had said recently. “I think it will just complicate the situationand it will not resolve anything. So if they want to do economicassistance, that’s their prerogative, but we don’t accept or see any rolepolitically or militarily for India in Afghanistan.”
Pakistan has repeatedly said the fight against terrorism has taken a tollon its people and forces.