WASHINGTON: As Pakistan faces certain setbacks due to the looming threat of being added to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey-list, the United States (US) has been asserting that Islamabad has the “opportunity to do more” before the list is reviewed by the middle of this year.
“Well, with respect to Pakistan we believe that Pakistan can do more to combat terrorism,” Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White said at a weekend news briefing in Washington.
Responding to a question regarding the Pentagon’s views on the future of Pakistan or Afghanistan in light of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and China recently voting against the US resolution on the matter of Pakistan supporting terrorism, White said this is “a turning point.”
“This is a turning point and an opportunity for Pakistan to do more,” she said.
“They have been victims of terrorism. So, we will look forward to continuing working with them to make the most of available opportunities,” the Pentagon chief spokesperson added.
Further, when asked about the Pentagon’s view on Pakistan welcoming Afghan government’s latest offer for peace talks with the Taliban, White said, “Our goal is to help the Afghan security forces become capable enough to ensure that the violence ends.”
The Taliban had to abandon terror, it had to abandon violence, and it had to support the Afghan constitution, White said, while adding they have to come to the negotiating table for talks. This is good news for the people of Afghanistan as the country could soon find an ultimate political resolution to the decades-old problem, she concluded.
