Ties with India not at cost of Pakistan or China, says US

• US official says Obama and Modi discussed Pak-India dialogue re-engagement
• US Defence Intelligence Agency chief expresses confidence in Pak’s nuclear security efforts, acknowledges effectiveness of Zarb-e-Azb
• Obama’s Pentagon nominee willing to expand counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan

Playing down suggestions that the US-India partnership was intended as a counterweight to China and Pakistan, a senior US official said Wednesday Washington’s sole intent was “to build India up” working on common core values.

“I would fundamentally point to the fact that this is a US-India effort and it’s not necessarily to counterweight anyone,” Phil Reiner, White House’s senior director for South Asian Affairs, told foreign media at a roundtable meeting on Obama’s India trip.

In response to a question about Pakistan, Reiner said Obama and Modi “have maintained a consistent dialogue on the region, and of course, that includes Pakistan, it includes Afghanistan.”

The two, he said had “a very positive conversation about the small steps” the two countries had taken “that’ll create that space so that the two can begin to re-engage”.

Rejecting Pakistani criticism that US-India nuclear deal might upset the strategic stability in the region, Reiner pointed out that it was an agreement that was actually reached a number of years ago.

“This is simply the policy breakthrough that was necessary in order to actually implement what was already an existing agreement,” he said.

“So in terms of strategic stability, it’s really a continuation of something that already existed and has not had a negative impact.”

Reiner said over the course of the years, the US had “made it very clear that we can maintain robust relationships with both countries and that it’s not zero-sum.”

“So for instance, for Republic Day (Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif issued a letter to the prime minister (Modi). I think this is one of those small things that we can look to that is necessary in order to create the space for re-engagement on dialogue.

“I think Prime Minister Modi points to the two minutes of silence that they observed in India after the (December 16, 2014) horrific attacks in Peshawar,” Reiner said, when asked about the discussions on Pakistan-India relations.

PAKISTAN’S NUCLEAR SAFETY:

Meanwhile, the United States Defence Intelligence Agency chief has expressed confidence in Pakistan’s nuclear security efforts, while also acknowledging effectiveness of the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Lt. General Vincent R. Stewart, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, while testifying before a Congressional hearing on worldwide threat assessment, expected sustained Pakistani operations against militants this year.

“Pakistan continues to take steps to improve security of its nuclear arsenal. We anticipate that Pakistan will continue development of new delivery systems, including cruise missiles and close-range “battlefield” nuclear weapons to augment its existing ballistic missiles,” he said, appearing before the House Armed Services Committee.

Gen. Stewart told lawmakers that Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces remain deployed in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“Army ground operations in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) have cleared anti-state militants from most population centers, and we expect the military will continue targeting remaining militant strongholds in 2015.”

He noted that the December 2014 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attack against the Army Public school in Peshawar that killed more than 140 people, mostly children, has emboldened military efforts against anti-state militants, including intensified airstrikes against TTP leadership and fighters.

“The government and military are also working together to implement a national action plan against terrorism, which includes the establishment of military courts.”

However, Stewart said despite ongoing military operations, Pakistan will continue to face internal security threats from militant, sectarian, and separatist groups.

“Additionally, Pakistan remains concerned about ISIL outreach and propaganda in South Asia.”

About Afghanistan, he said, al-Qaeda will likely try to expand its limited presence in eastern Afghanistan as Western counterterrorism operations there decline, and in the face of continued counterterrorism from Pakistan.

Regarding India, Stewart said the country is in the midst of a major military modernization effort – undertaken by all three military services – to address problems with its aging equipment.

India’s relations with Pakistan remain strained, he said. “Both sides engaged in periodic skirmishes on or near the Line of Control that separates Indian and Pakistani Kashmir, resulting in the highest number of civilian casualties since 2003.”

COUNTER-TERRORISM COOPERATION:

Separately, President Obama’s pick for defence secretary, Ashton Carter, said he is willing to expand US counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan and advancing efforts to arm and integrate Sunni tribal forces into Iraq’s battle against Islamic State militants.

Obama’s nominee is poised to tell Republicans in Congress that he might eventually consider reviewing the schedule for withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan, and would push to trim wasteful spending.

Carter also said in written answers to questions that he’s willing to consider recommending changes to Obama’s drawdown plans in Afghanistan next year, should conditions deteriorate.

That could appeal to some Republicans who criticise Obama for setting drawdown targets in Afghanistan as well his limits on US military actions in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine.

“I think he’s well qualified and he’s going to have to do well, Senator Lindsey Graham, a key committee member, told Reuters. “He’s going to have to defend the president, but not to a fault,”

Carter was nominated to become Obama’s fourth defence secretary after Hagel resigned under pressure last year, raising questions over whether the 60-year-old technocrat would be able break into Obama’s tight-knit inner circle. Hagel remains in the job until his successor is confirmed.