Pakistan apprises US to address concerns for moving forward: FO

Dr Muhammad Faisal says there is a need to find common ground in diplomacy, for resolving the issues

Pakistan has apprised the United States about its serious concerns which need to be addressed for moving forward, according to Radio Pakistan.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal, while talking to a private news channel on Saturday, said that there was a need to find common ground in diplomacy, for resolving issues between the two countries.



“Pakistan is facing serious problems from the elements carrying out attacking from Afghanistan's soil,” said the FO spokesperson.

Dr Faisal said Islamabad has also apprised Washington to help resolve the matter of Afghan refugees.

The tension between Pakistan and the US has grown over Washington’s complaints that the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network that target American troops in Afghanistan are allowed to take shelter on Pakistani soil.

Trump’s administration last week announced the suspension of about $2billion in security aid to Pakistan over accusations Islamabad is playing a double game in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has rejected the accusations and accuses the US of disrespecting its vast sacrifices in fighting terrorism.

On Friday, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa told US Central Command Chief General Joseph Votel during a telephone call that Pakistan “felt betrayed” by criticism that it was not doing enough to fight terrorism.

General Votel, who is overseeing the US campaign in Afghanistan, apprised General Bajwa about the US decision regarding the security assistance and Coalition Support Fund. He said the US values Pakistan’s role in the war on terror and expects that the on-going turbulence remains a temporary phase.



He said the US is not contemplating any unilateral action inside Pakistan but is seeking cooperation to tackle Afghan nationals, who, in the US view, use Pakistan’s soil against Kabul. This view, he felt, was undermining in Washington, Pakistan’s contributions in the war against terrorism.

Pakistan, General Bajwa maintained, is also strengthening border controls unilaterally but if Afghanistan genuinely feels affected from Pakistan, bilateral border management must be Kabul’s top priority as well.