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WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary James Mattis said on Tuesday Washington would try “one more time” to work with Islamabad on the Afghanistan front before President Donald Trump turned to options to address Pakistan’s alleged support for militant groups.
“We need to try one more time to make this strategy work with them, by, with and through the Pakistanis, and if our best efforts fail, the President is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary,” the defence secretary said at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee.
According to sources in Washington, the likely Trump administration responses being discussed include expanding US drone strikes and perhaps eventually downgrading Pakistan’s status as a major non-Nato ally.
In a separate Senate hearing on Tuesday, the top US military officer said he believed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had ties to militant groups.
“It is clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups,” General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2017
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Comments (86) Closed
Oct 04, 2017 10:42am
true
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Oct 04, 2017 10:58am
ISI , which the world knows the best in the business, which led to the demise of USSR. Not a piece of Cake.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:00am
Mattis guides Tillerson meeting agenda with asif.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:02am
Pakistan will not change its policy even if you try million times Mr Mattis. India has already tried. Now its your turn.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:06am
WOW
Thank you so much Sir for giving us one more chance
After all with friends like you who needs enemies.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:11am
Pakistan should not concede to any pressure or threat but at the same time we need a shift in our policy to make it compatible with the modern wold. The time has changed now so there is no point in dragging the policies of 90s.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:12am
The countdown has started.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:12am
Lets see who wins.Pakistan v/s US.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:13am
This should serve as a wake up call if nothing else for all politicians, diplomats, intelligence and defence personnels in Pakistan who keep fuelling the rhetoric and refuse to get out of their cuckoo land at the peril of the nation.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:20am
Another failure for Trump.
Pakistan Zindabad.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:31am
Shortly China will also say the same.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:39am
Been here many many times.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:40am
@MKAUL "The countdown has started."
This countdown has been on going for last 16 years. No worries.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:41am
Now you people why are u welcoming him? why do u not denying his help? where is your self respect?
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Oct 04, 2017 11:44am
@Haider Khan Its not one more chance Its a performance improvement plan
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Oct 04, 2017 11:45am
Whatever happens Pakistan should not accept drone attacks in Pakistan, it violates its sovereignty, enough is enough.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:48am
@Haider Khan "Thank you so much Sir for giving us one more chance"
As if they have any other choice ! They know it.
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Oct 04, 2017 11:55am
Pakistan will not change as this means they will have to fight the group they have given birth to. It will try and act smart and innocent but will be caught out soon and then the real thing will start.
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Oct 04, 2017 12:04pm
One more chance what a silly joke?
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Oct 04, 2017 12:05pm
I can never understand why we allow these Yanks to even have an embassy in Pakistan.!!!
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Oct 04, 2017 12:06pm
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif took a hard line with Washington. It didn't work.
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Oct 04, 2017 12:12pm
Now what to do. Should you wait for CPEC.
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Oct 04, 2017 12:24pm
Before you take that route, find alternate route into and out of Afghanistan, as Pakistan's corridors will be closed. Sad to see old friends go, but we have a new life long friend and CPEC. Wish you well for the future.
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Oct 04, 2017 12:27pm
@Akram ...You can see into the future oh wise one.!
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Oct 04, 2017 12:30pm
@Ali, you kidding.. do not confuse withdrawal from Afghanistan with the demise of USSR. The demise of the USSR had to do with economics and Russian/European geopolitics of the time...
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Oct 04, 2017 12:35pm
@Haider Khan Discard the friendship,if you have the resolve.
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Oct 04, 2017 12:36pm
Where is China??
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Oct 04, 2017 12:37pm
Go Back to where you came from and leave this part of the world in peace !!!!
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Oct 04, 2017 12:38pm
Problems can never be solved with conditions and will never in future also.
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Oct 04, 2017 12:41pm
Its kind of a embarrassment for both side... but its a clear cut policy to pressurize Pakistan. I dont think pakistan will surrender but choose to confuse US as Pakistan used to. US only knows spend money but she does not know how to utilize. So thats why her policy continuously fail in Afghanistan.
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Oct 04, 2017 12:44pm
after getting fed up from north Korea, lets just start the business again....
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Oct 04, 2017 12:44pm
you gonna be surprised this time
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Oct 04, 2017 12:57pm
We don't need America or non-Nato ally status please.
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Oct 04, 2017 12:58pm
Thank you stars Pakistan. Man kind is kind enough to let you have a piece of Land which you call Pakistan. I guess you are stretching your luck way too much. World had never heard of an alms seeker with such serious attitude problems.
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Oct 04, 2017 01:04pm
It is pretty obvious. All intelligence agencies have their infiltrators inside the enemy. It does not mean that they coordinate with them.
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Oct 04, 2017 01:08pm
Funny isn't it :).
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Oct 04, 2017 01:13pm
Every opportunity Pakistan got to correct its policies over the last seventeen years was wasted. Probably the only country in the world that successfully wasted so many opportunities to the detriment of its people. Tactics of blackmail which worked well for decades with weak leaders in the White House, now redundant under Trump. Bluster and a show of hurt innocence also tried by Pakistan in the run up to this meeting but so far all looks like a dead end. Putting off the visit of a US delegation and sending emissaries to countries considered by the US as foes, was an exercise in masochism, the damage from it will reveal itself with time. The country must hold those making the current policies accountable, through demonstrable results not rhetoric.
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Oct 04, 2017 01:22pm
What a grave and great scam?
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Oct 04, 2017 01:39pm
The people who gave libya and syria to terrorists should not lecture others on ties to militants.
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Oct 04, 2017 01:50pm
@Zak "Before you take that route, find alternate route into and out of Afghanistan, as Pakistan's corridors will be closed. Sad to see old friends go, but we have a new life long friend and CPEC. Wish you well for the future."
This advise of yours should be so obvious to US military planners. Have you ever wandered why they are concerned about this.
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Oct 04, 2017 01:58pm
How do we get this through the thick skull of uncle Sam that we don't want to work with them anymore.
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Oct 04, 2017 01:59pm
@Feroz very well said. Sane voice albeit rare.
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Oct 04, 2017 02:19pm
@Ali USSR empire fall due to lack of financial resources . military might stand only on financial might. need money for every thing someone want to do.
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Oct 04, 2017 02:21pm
Finger crossed! ! !
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Oct 04, 2017 02:31pm
Dawn his omitted one important point from Mr. Mattis. He told, if Pakistan gives up militancy support, they can gain very big financial support from India and improvement in life of public. Whether it is acceptable or not, his views would have been published.
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Oct 04, 2017 02:56pm
Real testing time for Pakistan because US is dragging us to the point like once Bush asked very categorically 'are you with us or against' Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
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Oct 04, 2017 02:57pm
Unfortunately the US policy is for its own benefit, not Afghanistan or Pakistan!
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Oct 04, 2017 03:31pm
@Ali best in the world in what?
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Oct 04, 2017 03:34pm
@SATT Pak will win with the support of all weather friend
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Oct 04, 2017 03:34pm
One or hundred times, it doesnt matter, Pakistan will do like any sovereign state, what needs to be done to protect its national and security interests. If American is not ready to align its interests with Pakistan and want to remain in tangent, then tough luck!
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Oct 04, 2017 04:20pm
@Sajid Sajjad Abbasi Well said
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Oct 04, 2017 05:48pm
Oh yeah thank you for your consideration but who cares
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Oct 04, 2017 05:52pm
Not a good report.
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Oct 04, 2017 06:41pm
no thank you!
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Oct 04, 2017 06:42pm
Goodluck
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Oct 05, 2017 12:48am
"US will try to work with Pakistan" until Trump is out and a new President takes over to decide the next course of action.
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Oct 05, 2017 01:08am
one day life of lion is better than 100 years of jackal life
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Oct 05, 2017 02:57am
So after India having flatly refused to send its soldiers in Afghanistan to fight the proxy war for USA in absence of mandate from UN; it is a Hobson's choice for Mr Mattis, who is now willing to give one more chance to Pakistan.
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Oct 05, 2017 02:58am
@Akram - Agreed 100% after India said NO USA has no choice.
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Oct 05, 2017 03:44am
No thank you. Please don't!
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Oct 05, 2017 04:31am
Don't do us any favours.
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Oct 05, 2017 05:48am
@Mohammed Yes, please continue. Great job and by the way, "Long live your 'MAIN' polciy makers".
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Oct 05, 2017 07:05am
Clock is ticking
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Oct 05, 2017 08:31am
We could easily see the stance of US and India. When a powerful country threatens them they take 5 steps back evidence by Korea and China in dhokla.
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Oct 05, 2017 09:33am
Could we call it a day. We going our way and you yours for good.
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Oct 05, 2017 09:36am
This is the only workable option, good that US realizes it.
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Oct 05, 2017 11:17am
Second last please!
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Oct 05, 2017 11:42am
@Akram Dude it was sarcasm
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Oct 05, 2017 12:04pm
Let me rephrase General's sentence " US will try to use already failed methods again in Afghanistan and if failed they will blame scapegoat (Pakistan) as usual "
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Oct 05, 2017 12:51pm
Yes they will try "one" more time and it will cost them nothing and only destroy our infrastructure even more. They have no other choice and President trump should be careful about blaming Pakistan while lauding India, as a victim. That will not work. if you want someone to do something for you then you have to praise him and not blame him.
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Oct 05, 2017 02:33pm
Great, US is dreaming the Sun to rise from the West.
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Oct 05, 2017 11:43pm
James Mattis, it is good to read US is tell us one more time otherwise, please leave us alone and manage your issues with other your beloved friends. We all sure, will have peace in the country since we can stand on our feet very well. It is the US who poked the nose, not Pakistan.
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Oct 06, 2017 01:31am
make relation with China and Russia in the region, leave america, just border management,
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Oct 06, 2017 01:59am
@Ali I agree. it is a full fruit cake!
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Oct 06, 2017 03:31am
@Ali
The reason for USSR collapes was more than just a war .. they unlike, USA do not control the world economy and have nothing to sell to the world and no one was doing business with them, tried their expensive space program, going by their economy they were never the super power. Afghan adventure was last nail in their coffin.
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Oct 06, 2017 03:35am
@Raja farhat Abbas
Yeah right only if people were informed enough to know how the country runs, how the world economy works they would never utter such words. Most of our exports goes to the USA and Western countries due to which the country is still running despite low taxes and output in near future whatever little help we're getting from the KSA will not be there as their economy is nosediving.
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Oct 06, 2017 04:47am
Please don't. Pakistan should not care either
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Oct 06, 2017 05:25am
I have never seen usa so much subdued before --look at the compulsion they have but to ask pakistan help despite indian presence in afghanistan--if america had the power they wouldnot have swallowed spit by this statement--truely unipolar world is no more unipolar--thanks to afghan fiasco
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Oct 06, 2017 05:29am
@MKAUL no countdown is long over for foreign forces in afghanistan
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Oct 06, 2017 05:44am
@Prashant really ,read history of all super powers --when they lost militarily then everything cascade to fall down USSR rout in afghanistan was the triggering event same will prove soon for current super power since history never change and always repeat itself
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Oct 06, 2017 10:31am
Pakistan will give US one last chance to stop this nonsense. US has been losing wars since nam. They cannot fight a guerilla war and have a very soft underbelly.
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Oct 06, 2017 10:54am
Dear US,
We don't need a 'One More Time' please.
We have fought YOUR war at the expense of our soldiers and civilians. Please go and take care of your own business in Afganistan.
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Oct 06, 2017 11:01am
You have no other choice but to workout thing with Pakistan.
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Oct 06, 2017 12:43pm
@Raja farhat Abbas , If you want to know really then you will have to get up very early morning and visit USA embessey and ask the people who are queuing up to get the entry in USA.
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Oct 06, 2017 01:25pm
@sonu As much as it is painful, your statement is also true.
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Oct 06, 2017 01:38pm
@Ali LOL ..... really?????
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