Pak-US Ties Since Travel Restrictions
Pak-US Ties Since Travel Restrictions: In a latest development to strengthen ties between two countries, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday spoke with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, said a statement issued from the office of the US spokesperson Heather Nauert.
Both the leaders stressed need for political reconciliation in Afghanistan, and the importance of targeting the militant and terrorist groups in the region.
It is being considered as a big development in the recent phase of the two countries’ relations as this is the first time, since travel restrictions were imposed, that a high-level engagement has taken place.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently told Congress that American diplomats are being treated badly in Islamabad. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has, however, termed these allegations as unfounded. It has also shown its reservations about the undue restrictions placed on the movement of its diplomats in Washington.
The ongoing climate of distrust and blame game between the two cold war partners suggests that the fraught Pak-US relations will further deteriorate to the lowest ebb owing to the aggressive attitude adopted by the Trump administration towards Pakistan’s alleged flirtation with the Afghan Taliban.
Trump accused Pakistan of supporting the Afghan Taliban even though it has received $33 billion in aid. When Pakistan refused to accept the US policy dictations against the Taliban, the Trump administration suspended economic aid to Pakistan and placed it on the FATF ‘grey list’ with the diplomatic support of some of its Western allies.
According to the statement, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a phone conversation, discussing various matters, including strategy in South Asia.
The discussion was focused to advance Pak-US bilateral relations, said statement. Islamabad should look for approaches to participate with Washington in united territories and skillfully oversee strains where the interests of the two nations separate.
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