Pakistan-US ties on the mend: Dempsey

General Dempsey warns that pullout from Afghanistan would have fallout for Pakistan, the region.

WASHINGTON: The United States is gradually rebuilding its bilateral relationship with Pakistan in the wake of tensions that brewed in 2011, the top American military officer said on Wednesday.

“We are gradually rebuilding our relationship as reflected in the recent signing of a tripartite border document to standardise complementary cross-border operations and will continue to do so with Pakistan’s new leadership following its historic election last month,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff of the US military Gen. Martin Dempsey said.

Appearing before the US Senate Committee on Appropriations, Dempsey acknowledged that a defeat in Afghanistan would have fallout for Pakistan and the region.

The General recalled that when he appeared for a testimony last year, the effects of the November 2011 border incident with Pakistan were still fresh, and tensions were as high as any time since the Osama bin Laden raid but things improved through bilateral engagement.

“Measured, but steady civilian-military engagement with Pakistani leadership led to the reopening of the Ground Lines of Communication in July 2012,” he noted.

When Senator Lindsey Graham asked Dempsey what would happen if the United States-led allies lose the conflict in Afghanistan, the military officer cited a number of possible implications.

“Well, the region will become unstable. Our—I think there will be problems on Pakistan’s border. Iran will be encouraged to become even more regionally aggressive ------ we could find a re-emergence of violent extremist groups.”

However, he stressed that the US is winning in Afghanistan.

Dempsey noted that the difference between winning and losing is certainly what the US-led allies do between now and the end of 2014 “but also, I think, the commitment we make beyond.”