US reaffirms ‘long-term’ security partnership with Pakistan

US assistant defence secretary thanks Pakistan for supporting Afghan peace talks

ISLAMABAD:

A senior US official has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a “long-term mutually-beneficial security partnership” with Pakistan after the two countries held strategic-level defence dialogue here the other day.

Pakistan-US strategic level defence dialogue was held on Thursday but the two sides issued separate handouts on Friday. The US delegation was led Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey, while the Pakistani side was headed by Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the Chief of General Staff.

In a daylong session, issues ranging from regional security to the deepening of bilateral defence and security/military-to-military cooperation were discussed, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The discussions were held in very cordial and constructive manner with exchange of views and ideas from both sides, it added.

The US Embassy in a separate statement Helvey thanked Lt Gen Mirza for Pakistan’s ongoing role in supporting Afghanistan peace negotiations and discussed the urgency of reducing violence and restarting meaningful negotiations between the Kabul government negotiators and the Taliban.

Helvey also reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a long-term, mutually beneficial security partnership with Pakistan, and discussed opportunities for strengthening cooperation on counterterrorism.

The talks held just days before the inauguration of Joe Biden as the new president of the United States. Under Trump presidency, after initial hiccups relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained stable thanks to Islamabad’s role in brokering the February 29 deal between the US and Taliban as well as facilitating the intra-Afghan talks.

It appears that the new administration would stick to the Afghan policy and pursue peace process to seek an end to the 19 year old unrest in Afghanistan.

The Biden administration, however, may not push for a hasty withdrawal and seek additional concessions from the Taliban. Pakistan will continue to remain important for the US in terms of the Afghanistan endgame.