Pakistan and US in Hard Talks: No Change in US South Asian Policy Despite increased politico-diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the US, unease in
their bilateral relations continued. After his surprise visit to Afghanistan on 23 October, US Secretary of State Rex Tiller son visited Islamabad on 24 October where he met top military and political leadership. While talking to media persons in Afghanistan, Tiller son delivered a blunt warning to Pakistan for stepping up action against terrorist groups that have allegedly found safe haven within its borders
1. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani expressed concern over the statement
by the US Secretary of State terming the tone and tenor as unacceptable.
2.During his meeting in Pakistani Prime Minister and Army Chief, the Pakistani side is believed to have conveyed their commitment to the war on terror and said that Pakistan has already achieved results in its campaign so far.
3 Briefing Senate on 25 October regarding the talks held between Pakistani and
American delegations, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif asserted that Islamabad will co-operate with Washington in the ‘war on terror’ but without compromising its own sovereignty; Pakistan told the US to allow their policymakers, and not their military leaders, to devise a policy for Afghanistan as the military solution has failed and a political solution is needed; Pakistan will act if actionable intelligence is provided but won’t act their proxies; Pakistan conveyed diminishing influence on Afghan Taliban and the key role that China, Turkey and Russia can play due to their influence on Afghan Taliban.
4 A separate statement from FM Khawaja Asif
contemplated that Pakistani side conveyed to the US delegation that US allegations of Pakistan providing safe heavens to militants are incorrect as militants do not need sanctuaries in Pakistan as 55 percent of Afghan territory is being controlled by Afghan Taliban and Daesh.
