- American senators ask Pakistan to come up with its suggestions to normalise situation in Afghanistan
- Senate’s influential committee members want Pakistan’s help to deal with Haqqani network
A five-member American delegation led by US Senate’s Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator John McCain called on Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and discussed regional scenario, the Pakistan-US relations and expressed full support to Pakistan’s efforts to deal with the menace of terrorism.
Other members of the delegation included Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator David Perdue and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. The visit comes on the heels of the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington and was perhaps aimed at striking a balance in American relations between Pakistan and India.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Tehmina Janjua was also present in the meeting. Senator McCain said that continued engagement with Pakistan, a close friend and ally of the US, was important. “The senators also praised the economic turnaround, as manifested by investors’ interest and confidence in Pakistan. They agreed with the need for Pakistan and the US to forge closer cooperation in confronting the peace and security challenges in the region and beyond,” an official handout said.
Thanking the adviser on behalf of the delegation, Senator McCain appreciated the contributions and sacrifices made by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. An official, who attended the meeting, told Pakistan Today that the US congressmen looked keen in revival of peace efforts in Afghanistan and asked Pakistan to come up with its suggestions to normalise situation in Afghanistan.
The US delegation said that Pakistan’s proposal could be handy in Afghan normalisation as the Trump administration was conducting a review of the regional situation including Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and other countries. Senator McCain made it clear that the State Department was conducting a review of entire regional scenario and it was not related to only Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He also asked how Afghan Taliban could join the peace process. However, the Pakistan side told the US delegation it was upto the Afghan government to decide on revival of peace process as Pakistan wants Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution. The source said that the US delegation urged Pakistan to help revive the peace process as the US review had entered in a crucial situation.
“Pakistan reiterated to the US senators that military solution is no option in Afghanistan and as it has been tried in past by the NATO and Centcom forces without any success,” the official said. The congressmen said that according to their assessment the review should have been completed by now. “They also told that if Trump administration decides to increase military presence in Afghanistan, the bill would also come to the Congress. So they wanted Pakistan’s purview which could help them assess the situation beforehand.”
The official said that the American delegates again raised the issue of the Haqqani network and asked Pakistan to help. “Sartaj Aziz apprised the US delegation about Pakistan’s success in combating terrorism through military operations and informed them the terrorist networks have been dismantled, their sanctuaries eliminated under the overarching National Action Plan,” the official statement said.
The source said that the US delegation would leave for Afghanistan today (Tuesday) and would spend a day with US troops while a meeting with Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani is also on the cards. An official handout said that welcoming the US senators, the adviser reiterated the importance of regular high-level contacts and particularly appreciated McCain, Graham and Whitehouse for their continued engagement and regular visits to Pakistan to promote understanding and cooperation.
The adviser underscored the significance of the longstanding cooperation between the two countries and the need to make this partnership diverse and multidimensional. Pakistan and the US strategic partnership was critical to achieve peace and stability in the region and beyond, the official quoted the adviser as saying.
The official source said that the US delegation urged Pakistan and India to resolve all extraordinary issues through talks. “Pakistan responded that it wanted dialogue but it was India which puts preconditions for the revival of peace talks. The advisor made it clear that Pakistan wanted all issues with India to be resolved through talks including the Kashmir issue.
He also raised concern over the gross human rights violations by the Indian forces in the disputed state and international community’s silence over the reign of terror unleashed by India on unarmed Kashmiris. He stressed that Pakistan firmly believed in the legitimacy of the Kashmir cause and the peaceful struggle of the Kashmiri people.
