US Defence Secretary James Mattis said that there have been changes in Islamabad’s behaviour since President Trump suspended aid to Pakistan.
Washington: There have been changes in Pakistan’s behaviour with respect to the fight against terrorism after President Donald Trump lashed out at Islamabad for providing safe havens to militants and suspended US security aid of over $1 billion for the country, US defence secretary James Mattis has said.
Mattis also said certain Pakistan military operations were helping the US’ ongoing efforts against terrorism.
“There have been changes in Pakistan’s behaviour (since the Trump administration’s south Asia strategy was announced),” Mattis told reporters travelling with him to Afghanistan, according to transcripts released by the US department of defence.
Announcing his new south Asia policy in August last year, Trump had called for tougher measures against Pakistan if it failed to cooperate with the US in its fight against terrorism.
In his first tweet of the new year, Trump accused Pakistan of basing the countries’ relationship on “nothing but lies and deceit”.
Days after his tweet, the US suspended over $1.15 billion in security aid as well as the delivery of military equipment to Pakistan for failing to crack down on the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
Talking about changes in Pakistan, Mattis also referred to the fatwa issued by over 1,800 Pakistani clerics this year declaring suicide bombings “haram” or forbidden. “That was a step in the right direction,” Mattis said.
However, he added that, despite the apparent changes, he’d still like to talk to people dealing with the border issues and intelligence about their impression of the situation.
“One of the reasons I want to go in is actually talk to the people who are dealing with the border issues right now, dealing with intelligence and what they’re seeing. And then go back and talk with our intelligence agencies in Washington, DC, and put together an assessment of this,” Mattis said.
“There is a number of things that have been going on, but I want to talk to people here and see the reality and how they see it and go back and talk to intelligence agencies and get a full assessment of where we’re at,” he said.
Responding to a question on the Taliban, Mattis said that even as the US tried to bring the Taliban to the negotiation table with the Afghan government, it would still ramp up military pressure on it. “…You need to have that door open, even as you increase the military pressure, and say this is not going to work. You know, to just be setting off bombs,” he added.
The defence secretary said the US needed to “lead and provide the substance for the reconciliation effort”. “…It may not be that the whole Taliban comes over in one fell swoop. That would be a bridge too far right now to expect. But there are elements of the Taliban clearly interested in talking to the Afghan government,” Mattis said.
In Kabul, Mattis met with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah. Pentagon’s chief spokesperson Dana White said later that Mattis praised Ghani’s recent offer to negotiate with the Taliban without preconditions.
“He noted Ghani’s diplomatic approach achieved a level of international support not possible with military action alone. Secretary Mattis offered his full support to the Afghan-led reconciliation process, aimed at achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan,” White said.
“The two leaders also reinforced that the recent Taliban peace offer without preconditions was genuine, and they are ready to embrace all who are willing to reconcile,” she added.
At the second Kabul Process Conference February 28, Ghani had called on the Taliban to participate in peace talks to “save the country” while offering security and incentives like passports to insurgents who take part in the negotiations. – PTI