ISLAMABAD - The United States Monday asked Pakistan to intensify the anti-terror campaign along the Pak-Afghan border as US Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells visited Islamabad for a second time in a month.

Earlier, Wells had visited Islamabad and Karachi from March 28 to April 3 and held meetings with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua and army chief Qamar Jawed Bajwa among others.

Yesterday, Wells held another round of talks with Tehmina, pressing Islamabad to act against the Haqqani Network along the Pak-Afghan border.

Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation that Wells appreciated Pakistan’s role in the war on terror but insisted that more was needed to be done.

One official said: “The meeting was held in a cordial manner but the demand once again was to ‘do more’. We (Pakistan) counted our achievements in the anti-terror war.”

Another official said: “Wells spoke about the Afghan complaints regarding alleged double game by Pakistan. The foreign secretary assured Wells that Pakistan was sincere in eliminating terrorism in its own interest. Wells made it clear that Pak-US ties were linked with Pakistan’s role against terrorism.”

During her last visit, Ambassador Wells discussed the South Asia strategy and Pakistan’s stated commitment to eliminate all terrorist groups present within its borders, as well as Pak-US shared interest in building economic and commercial ties that benefit both the nations.

Regarding her last visit, a US embassy statement had said: “In the aftermath of the Tashkent conference on Afghanistan, Ambassador Wells noted the growing international consensus on the way forward to achieving peace in Afghanistan and the meaningful role that Pakistan, partnering with the United States, could play in achieving a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan.”

Pakistan is under the US pressure to itself find the ‘common ground’ to move forward. Washington believes Pakistan is responsible for the declining trust level.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammed Faisal said Pakistan and the US were yet to find ‘common ground’ on a range of issues.

In January, the US State Department said it was suspending at least $900 million in security assistance to Pakistan after President Donald Trump criticised Islamabad for not doing enough to combat terrorism.

Afghan officials, along with the Trump administration, have accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists operating in Afghanistan, a charge Islamabad denies.

Last month, US Vice President Mike Pence told Prime Minister Abbasi that Islamabad “must do more to address the continued presence of the Taliban, Haqqani network, and other terrorist groups operating in their country.”

A US embassy statement yesterday said: “The US Department of State’s Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Ambassador Alice Wells visited Islamabad today (April 23) for meetings with Foreign Secretary Janjua and other senior officials. In her meetings, she discussed the status of the United States’ South Asia strategy and efforts to make progress on regional security and stability.”

This month Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi shared evidence of cross- border terrorism with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani when he visited Kabul on April 6. The PM had visited Kabul on an invitation of President Ghani.

Prior to the meeting, President Ghani had said that Kabul was ready for talks with Pakistan. He said his country wanted to forget the past and start a new chapter. He also laid out several olive branches to the Taliban, promising facilities and security to those who join the peace process.

He pledged that prisoners would be freed, Taliban members and their families would be provided passports and an office will be opened for the Taliban in Kabul. Pakistan is under the US pressure to make the Kabul talks result oriented.

In February, the US had recognised Pakistan’s generosity to host millions of the Afghan refugees for decades. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Nancy Izzo Jackson appreciated Pakistan for hosting one of the largest, most-protracted refugee populations in the world for nearly forty years. 

During a visit to Pakistan, she encouraged Pakistan to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Afghan government on a plan that supports voluntary, sustainable, and dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees.

As the largest single-country contributor for humanitarian assistance in Pakistan and the region, since 2002 the US has provided through the UNHCR and other partners nearly $2.9 billion to support Afghan refugees, returnees, affected Afghan populations, and the Pakistani communities and others who host them, the US embassy said.

 

 

US again asks Pakistan to do more against terrorism