Pakistan seeks continued US support to fight terror
The US has yet to certify to the Congress that Pakistan is doing enough to disrupt the Haqqani Network
PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan asked the United States on Wednesday for its continued support and help in the fight against terrorism against the backdrop of reports that Washington may withhold crucial military assistance over what it sees as Islamabad’s reluctance to eradicate the Haqqani Network, the deadliest of all Afghan Taliban factions.
“We resolve to fight till the end of the menace of extremism but for this we would like our friends and partners to support and acknowledge our efforts,” Defence Secretary Lt-Gen (retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak told a top US general visiting Islamabad on Wednesday.
During the day-long visit, Commander of the US Central Command (Centcom) Gen Lloyd Austin also met army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Rashad Mahmood in addition to the defence secretary.
During the meeting with Gen Raheel, Gen Austin acknowledged Pakistan Army’s sacrifices and efforts in the war against terrorism, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. He also paid homage to Pakistani martyrs and laid a floral wreath on martyrs’ monument, the military’s media wing said.
Sources said the army chief discussed the issue of Coalition Support Fund (CSF), which Washington had threatened to withhold over Pakistan’s ‘lack of decisive action’ against the Haqqani Network. He told Gen Austin that Pakistan’s ongoing military operation was targeting terrorist groups of ‘all shades’ and that there is no discrimination.’
Washington has so far made no decision over the disbursement of the next trance of the CSF, a spokesman for the US defence department said earlier on Wednesday.
“We have certainly not taken future security assistance off the table and Pakistan continues to be a high priority counterterrorism and defence partner for the US,” Maj Roger M Cabiness said in response to questions that the Pentagon is considering withholding the final tranche.
The US has yet to certify to the Congress that Pakistan is doing enough to disrupt the Haqqani Network.
According to a separate statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence, Defence Secretary Khattak said it was with the support of the US coalition forces and Pakistani armed forces that peace in Afghanistan had become possible. He told Gen Austin that Pakistani forces were committed in the form of continuing Operation Zarb-e-Azb to flush terrorists out of the area.
General Austin acknowledged that Pakistan was a stabilising factor in the wake of US/ISAF drawdown from Afghanistan. “For attaining the goal of lasting peace in the region, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s role is crucial,” he said.
The Centcom chief added that he fully acknowledged Pakistan’s effort in the fight against terror and the sacrifices that its people and armed forces had rendered, and assured Islamabad of Washington’s support towards this end.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2015.
Pakistan asked the United States on Wednesday for its continued support and help in the fight against terrorism against the backdrop of reports that Washington may withhold crucial military assistance over what it sees as Islamabad’s reluctance to eradicate the Haqqani Network, the deadliest of all Afghan Taliban factions.
“We resolve to fight till the end of the menace of extremism but for this we would like our friends and partners to support and acknowledge our efforts,” Defence Secretary Lt-Gen (retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak told a top US general visiting Islamabad on Wednesday.
During the day-long visit, Commander of the US Central Command (Centcom) Gen Lloyd Austin also met army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Rashad Mahmood in addition to the defence secretary.
During the meeting with Gen Raheel, Gen Austin acknowledged Pakistan Army’s sacrifices and efforts in the war against terrorism, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. He also paid homage to Pakistani martyrs and laid a floral wreath on martyrs’ monument, the military’s media wing said.
Sources said the army chief discussed the issue of Coalition Support Fund (CSF), which Washington had threatened to withhold over Pakistan’s ‘lack of decisive action’ against the Haqqani Network. He told Gen Austin that Pakistan’s ongoing military operation was targeting terrorist groups of ‘all shades’ and that there is no discrimination.’
Washington has so far made no decision over the disbursement of the next trance of the CSF, a spokesman for the US defence department said earlier on Wednesday.
“We have certainly not taken future security assistance off the table and Pakistan continues to be a high priority counterterrorism and defence partner for the US,” Maj Roger M Cabiness said in response to questions that the Pentagon is considering withholding the final tranche.
The US has yet to certify to the Congress that Pakistan is doing enough to disrupt the Haqqani Network.
According to a separate statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence, Defence Secretary Khattak said it was with the support of the US coalition forces and Pakistani armed forces that peace in Afghanistan had become possible. He told Gen Austin that Pakistani forces were committed in the form of continuing Operation Zarb-e-Azb to flush terrorists out of the area.
General Austin acknowledged that Pakistan was a stabilising factor in the wake of US/ISAF drawdown from Afghanistan. “For attaining the goal of lasting peace in the region, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s role is crucial,” he said.
The Centcom chief added that he fully acknowledged Pakistan’s effort in the fight against terror and the sacrifices that its people and armed forces had rendered, and assured Islamabad of Washington’s support towards this end.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2015.