ISLAMABAD: The United States on Friday renewed pressure on the Pakistan government to act against safe havens of terrorists in its tribal areas.
“Countering cross-border militancy and shutting down safe havens is critical not only for Pakistan’s long-term peace and prosperity but also for positive relations between Pakistan and all its neighbours, including Afghanistan,” US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said in a statement on the conclusion of his visit.
During his stay in Islamabad, Mr Burns met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Adviser to the Prime Minister for National Security and Foreign Policy Sartaj Aziz, and Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif.
The Prime Minister’s Office that routinely issues lengthy statements on the prime minister’s engagements with foreign visitors issued probably the briefest statement on the meeting saying: “Bilateral and regional issues were discussed in the meeting”.
The military’s public affairs wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, meanwhile, said that Mr Burns discussed “matters of mutual interest, including regional security situation”, in his meeting with Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif.
Mr Burns, who was on his first visit to Islamabad as the deputy secretary of state, in his meetings with Pakistani interlocutors underscored the importance US attached to its relations with Pakistan, but at the same time emphasised on the urgency of acting against terrorist sanctuaries in North Waziristan.
Over the past few months, the government has been trying to engage Taliban in talks and has shied away from taking action against them. The TTP has not renewed the ceasefire since it expired a month ago. Nine troops were killed in an attack in North Waziristan on Thursday.
The US pressure, however, was more about the groups carrying out attacks in Afghanistan than the ones involved in acts of terror in Pakistan.
The US suspended drone attacks against Taliban targets on the government’s insistence that the strikes were impacting its peace talks with militants.
Mr Burns, while highlighting the issue of militancy, said it continued to threaten Pakistan’s revival. He said he had urged Mr Sharif to “sustain pressure on militant groups, deny them a safe haven, and prevent cross-border attacks”.
The US official described it as a “moment of opportunity” for the bilateral relationship.
“And we share a deep commitment to putting that partnership to work to realise our shared vision of a more peaceful and prosperous Pakistan, and a more peaceful and prosperous South Asia,” he noted.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar in his meeting with Mr Burns flagged “Pakistan’s concerns about the post-2014 situation” and said “any bilateral or regional arrangement must address Pakistan’s concerns and interests”.
