Gen Martin Dempsey, the top American military officer, has said the United States is gradually rebuilding its relationship with Pakistan following a tension-filled phase in 2011-12.
Appearing before a Senate Committee for testimony on the next year’s defence budget request, Dempsey also noted that the US defeat in Afghanistan would have fallout for Pakistan and the region.
“We are gradually rebuilding our relationship as reflected in the recent signing of a tripartite border document to standardise complementary cross-border operations and will continue to do so with Pakistan’s new leadership following its historic election last month,” he said in a statement.
Dempsey, who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff, recounted that when he appeared for a testimony last year, the effects of the November 2011 border incident with Pakistan were still fresh, and tensions were as high as any time since the Osama bin Laden raid but things improved through bilateral engagement.
“Measured, but steady civilian-military engagement with Pakistani leadership led to the reopening of the Ground Lines of Communication in July 2012,” he noted.
To Senator Lindsey Graham question as to what would happen if the US were to lose the conflict in Afghanistan, Dempsey hinted at a number of possible implications.
“Well, the region will become unstable. Our — I think there will be problems on Pakistan’s border. Iran will be encouraged to become even more regionally aggressive… we could find a re-emergence of violent extremist groups.”
However, he said, the US was winning in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon leader noted that the difference between winning and losing was certainly what the US-led allies do between now and the end of 2014 “but also, I think, the commitment we make beyond”.