Latest assertions by the US about Pakistan ‘selectively’ fighting militant groups and allowing its soil to be used for terrorist activities, have been rubbished by the Foreign Office spokesperson in a latest interview with Voice of America.
These remarks by the FO spokesperson came as a response to the recent allegations hurled by HR McMaster, the US National Security Adviser, who said that the Trump administration wants regional countries like Pakistan to stop providing “safe haven and support bases” to the [Afghan] Taliban and Haqqani Network.
“This is, of course, you know, a very paradoxical situation, right, where Pakistan is taking great losses. They have fought very hard against these groups, but they’ve done so really only selectively,” he added further.
Despite refusing to discuss any details about Trump’s new ‘Afghan strategy,’ McMaster insists that the president has taken some important decisions in this regard.
The new US strategy, according to VOA, involves an increased pressure on Pakistan to address the issue of militant safe havens, expanding drone strikes, reducing aid to Islamabad and downgrading Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO ally.
“The US review for the region including Pakistan is still ongoing and we shall await its outcome,” said Zakaria.
These comments were welcomed by the Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Dawlat Waziri, who said, “The Afghan government has long maintained that without ending the sanctuaries on the other side of the border, the war in Afghanistan will not end.”
