–Report says decisions taken at meetings in Pakistan ‘need to be implemented now’
A Pentagon report released earlier this week summarising the US military chief’s visits to different countries stated that Pakistan has to be a part of a solution in Afghanistan.
The report stated that the main purpose of Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford’s visit to these nations, including Pakistan, was to “maintain and build alliances”.
It was further stated that Gen Dunford also reached out to “prospective partners to encourage cooperation and interoperability”.
According to the Pentagon report, the chairman visited Islamabad early in September because “Pakistan is key to the ‘South Asia Strategy’ that President Donald Trump espoused in August 2017. Pakistan has to be a part of a solution in Afghanistan.”
Furthermore, Gen Dunford’s visit was when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Pakistan to meet Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The report also includes a quote from Gen Dunford about the US team’s meeting with Gen Bajwa stating, “When we talked to Gen Bajwa on a military-to-military level, we listened to the prime minister very carefully [and] we listened to the secretary very carefully.”
“The objectives were very consistent between the secretary and prime minister. Gen Bajwa and I agreed that we will leverage the military-to-military relationship for the secretary and prime minister and, more importantly, for President Trump’s South Asia Strategy,” the US general added.
The report also stated that the decisions taken at the US-Pakistan meetings need to be implemented now. “Actions speak louder than words and the Pakistani leaders agreed to ‘reset’ their relationship with the United States,” it adds, backing it up with another quote from Gen Dunford.
“What we want to see: the Taliban at the peace table dealing with Afghans,” Gen Dunford said. “And we believe the Pakistanis play a unique role in bringing the Taliban to the peace process.”
Earlier, Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi also said that US’s relations with Pakistan were gradually improving and it was no longer an aid-based relationship.
“Our relationship with the US has turned the corner and is, now moving in the right direction,” he said.
“We want good relations with or without security assistance. We can work without US assistance.”
The Pentagon report points out that from Islamabad, Gen Dunford flew to New Delhi to discuss regional and global concerns, such as Afghanistan, North Korea and terrorism, with Indian leaders.
From New Delhi, they went to Kabul on an unannounced trip and met US, coalition and Afghan officials.