Jilani says US drawdown from Kabul ‘ill-timed’

Warns of security fallout on Pakistan

WASHINGTON:

A top Pakistani diplomat in Washington has questioned the timing of the US drawdown plan from Afghanistan, citing compelling risks to Kabul’s stability in the wake of a large pullout of foreign troops.

Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani also warned that the drawdown from Afghanistan would have serious repercussions on Pakistan.

“The only concern Pakistan has is, ‘Why is the US drawdown from Afghanistan coming now when the situation is not fully settled there?,’” said Ambassador Jilani in an interview with The Express Tribune. “The major responsibility to ensure peace and stability on [the Pak-Afghan] border will rest on Pakistan.”

Already, Pakistan has had to increase the number of forces on the Afghan border, according to Jilani, who will be getting superannuation in February next year.

“For us it’s a surge for our armed forces whose role in the fight against militants has already been praised by the Obama administration,” he said. “Though it’s a decision jointly taken by Washington and Kabul, the move to withdraw forces is clearly the sovereign right of the US,” added Jilani, the 22nd senior diplomat to hold this office in America.

He expressed the hope that once the new government takes over in Kabul, certain positive developments will emerge in Afghanistan.

India-Russia deal to supply arms to Afghan military

On the recent India-Russia deal to supply arms to Afghan troops, Ambassador Jilani said, Pakistan is concerned about this latest development. Of course, he said, Pakistan’s preference would remain extremely important to maintain the degree of balance.

Pak-US relationships

We’ve had also good discussion and robust nuclear dialogue with American officials recently, Jilani said. Islamabad held satisfactory discussion on defence arrangements with Washington in recent months. Premier Sharif has also articulated his vision of a peaceful South Asia immediately after he swept to power last year.

Look at the development since then, he said, it is kind of an overture towards better relationships in the last several months. It’s an extremely important step for peace and economic stability. Both are reciprocal. I must say there is greater degree of appreciation in America as well. Jilani, who belongs to a family of bureaucrats, said Pakistan’s relationship with America is on a positive trajectory.

Strategic dialogue has already been revived and there is some very good progress on the working groups on the economy, trade, energy, counter-terrorism authority and nuclear proliferation. US President Obama has special connections with Pakistan and I’ve seen personally since my arrival here. In Pakistan, I think, our people should also be aware of our cooperation with America and the same applies to the United States.

What we need, he says, is for both countries to develop a positive narrative of each other. Our people should also be aware of good cooperation, he said.

Pak-Iran gas pipeline project

On Pak-Iran gas pipeline project, the ambassador says, “there is absolutely no doubt we will pursue this project.” The US, with other five countries, is engaged in dialogue with Iran on this issue and we hope that the dialogue will bring some positive outcome, he said.

Once we reach this point, I’m sure the sanctions will be lifted and we will be very happy to pursue this project, he added.

US support for energy crisis

“Work on Dasu Dam has been started after we got tremendous amount of support from the World Bank,” Ambassador Jilani said. “Now, we are working on Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Americans are committed to supporting us. In October, we are pinning hopes that the upcoming investors conference will provide an opportunity to gain support on this project. The project will be formally presented before investors,” he added.

North Waziristan operation

The US side is aware of our commitment through military operations in Swat, North Waziristan and South Waziristan to get rid of extremism and militancy, Jilani said. On action against Taliban (associated with Haqqani Network), the Ambassador was of the view that there is no discrimination when it comes to killing Taliban.

Obama’s visit to Pakistan

Ambassador Jilani says high-level interactions have already taken place between top officials of the two states to pencil in President Obama’s visit to Pakistan. During his stay in US, Premier Sharif had also invited President Obama. “We hope Obama’s visit will be materialised soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2014.