Bring a less arrogant and hostile mindset: Mazari hits out at Khalilzad
Credits PM Imran for 'compelling' Trump to do a reality check on the Afghan peace process
Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Tuesday decimated US State Department's Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad for his approach towards Islamabad.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Mazari advised Khalilzad to bring a "less arrogant and hostile mindset" during his visit to Islamabad.
It is pertinent to note that the US diplomat arrived in the federal capital early morning to hold talks with Pakistan officials pertaining to the regional situation and further Trump administration's peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
Khalilzad is scheduled to visit eight countries, including Afghanistan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. In his October trip, the US special envoy held a series of meetings with the Pakistani leadership as part of Washington’s renewed push to bring the Afghan Taliban on to the negotiating table.
Mazari also credited Prime Minister Imran Khan for promptly responding to US President Donald Trump's Twitter tirade. Referring to the letter by Trump seeking Pakistan's help in Afghan peace talks, she claimed the premier's reply had 'compelled Trump to do a reality check'.
"So much for those in Pakistan who were quivering after Imran Khan's tweets," she added.
In the letter, the United States had sought PM Imran's full support to advance Afghan peace process. The correspondence came after Trump accused Pakistan of "doing nothing" despite receiving "billions of dollars" in aid.
The premier had hit back to the allegations by advising Washington to assess its efficiency in the war on terror instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for its failure.
Although both the US and Pakistan now have a commonality of views on seeking a political solution to the Afghan problem, the trust deficit between the two is the real stumbling block. Relations between the two countries are tense despite recent efforts to reset the troubled ties.
Khalilzad seeks Pakistan’s help for Afghan endgame
At the heart of their stalemate is the US insistence on Pakistan to do more to bring the Afghan Taliban on to the negotiating table. Washington still believes that Islamabad holds a considerable sway over the insurgent group.
Pakistan, however, dispelled that impression and insisted that bringing the insurgents on the negotiating table is a shared responsibility of all the players.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Mazari advised Khalilzad to bring a "less arrogant and hostile mindset" during his visit to Islamabad.
It is pertinent to note that the US diplomat arrived in the federal capital early morning to hold talks with Pakistan officials pertaining to the regional situation and further Trump administration's peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
Khalilzad is scheduled to visit eight countries, including Afghanistan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. In his October trip, the US special envoy held a series of meetings with the Pakistani leadership as part of Washington’s renewed push to bring the Afghan Taliban on to the negotiating table.
Mazari also credited Prime Minister Imran Khan for promptly responding to US President Donald Trump's Twitter tirade. Referring to the letter by Trump seeking Pakistan's help in Afghan peace talks, she claimed the premier's reply had 'compelled Trump to do a reality check'.
"So much for those in Pakistan who were quivering after Imran Khan's tweets," she added.
In the letter, the United States had sought PM Imran's full support to advance Afghan peace process. The correspondence came after Trump accused Pakistan of "doing nothing" despite receiving "billions of dollars" in aid.
The premier had hit back to the allegations by advising Washington to assess its efficiency in the war on terror instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for its failure.
Although both the US and Pakistan now have a commonality of views on seeking a political solution to the Afghan problem, the trust deficit between the two is the real stumbling block. Relations between the two countries are tense despite recent efforts to reset the troubled ties.
Khalilzad seeks Pakistan’s help for Afghan endgame
At the heart of their stalemate is the US insistence on Pakistan to do more to bring the Afghan Taliban on to the negotiating table. Washington still believes that Islamabad holds a considerable sway over the insurgent group.
Pakistan, however, dispelled that impression and insisted that bringing the insurgents on the negotiating table is a shared responsibility of all the players.