WASHINGTON: A spokesperson for the United States (US) Department of State on Wednesday said, “Pakistan is our ally in the war against terrorism”.
In an exclusive interview with a private media outlet, Helena White, the spokesperson at the State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, said that the US wishes “for the democratic process to continue in Pakistan”.
She also added that the US “understands and accepts the sacrifices of Pakistan’s military and people in the war against terrorism”.
The newly appointed spokesperson said that US President Donald Trump does not believe that the events that took place in South Asia– especially in the context of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and terrorism — were completely fine.
She said that Trump only said this with regard to the regional policy.
In his August 2017 address, Trump had said, “Our commitment is not limited [and] our support is not a blank cheque,” indicating that Pakistan needed to be ‘do more’ about the possible terrorist elements taking refuge in the country.
Trump also said it may “be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan, but nobody knows if or when that will ever happen”.
Pakistan — as well as the South Asian region — will benefit if it collaboratively works with the US in forming the new regional strategy for South Asia, White added.
“Pakistan plays an important role in the region,” she said.