The United States looks forward to building on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s hopeful visit to Islamabad and improve the relationship – that deteriorated sharply in the wake of differences over the Trump Administration’s South Asia policy and U.S. suspension of military aid for Pakistan.
Speaking at a Pakistan’s Defense Day event, a senior Pentagon official noted that the top American diplomat Pompeo– who met with new Pakistan leader Imran Khan and military chief – “emerged from that visit with some very hopeful words.”
“We are very heartened by that that Secretary Pompeo had those views coming out of that visit. Gen (Joseph) Dunford (Chairman Joint Chiefs Staff), I am sure, shared those. We look forward to building on the momentum that that visit created,” Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, said at an event marking Pakistan Defense Day at the country’s embassy in Washington D.C.
The newly elected Pakistani prime minister Khan also expressed optimism on revamping relations with the United States., although the two countries will have a lot to do toward overcoming the trust deficit and bridging difference over approach to bringing peace to Afghanistan and the region. In January, President Trump accused Pakistan of being in league with the Afghan militants kicking troubles in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has refuted the statement but Washington has suspended assistance for Pakistan including Coalition Support Funds and also finished a program for training of Pakistani military officers.
Ambassador Ali Jehangir Siddiqui
But Schriver referred to Secretary Pompeo’s statement that the U.S. looked to reset relationship with Pakistan. The assistant secretary also referred to Secretary Pompeo’s remarks that every conversation he had during the visit “gave him a sense of hope that we are on a better path and we can improve this relationship, to restore it toward full cooperation in all areas.”
The defense official felicitated the Pakistani nation on the occasion of the Defense Day and particularly appreciated Pakistan for extending full cooperation to the U.S. as it launched operations against terrorists in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
He said the U.S. recognizes Pakistan’s valuable contribution in the war on terror and emphasized that the U.S. did not take those sacrifices lightly.
Defense Attache Brig Kamal Anwar Chaudhry
“We value this relationship and we value the partnership,” he said.
He noted that the two countries may have differences in few areas but would continue to promote quality interactions – particularly in the areas of defense and security.
Earlier, Ambassador Ali J. Siddiqui highlighted Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices in the fight against terror. Pakistan Army, he said, has been among the largest contributors to the United Nations peace keeping missions in various conflict ridden areas around the globe.
On U.S.-Pakistan relations, Ambassador Siddiqui said that a strong and robust military cooperation between Pakistan and the U.S. has always been pivotal to strengthening relations between the two countries. Regular interactions and high-level exchanges would ultimately serve the interest of both the countries, he underscored.
