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US general addresses Pakistan concerns on India’s role
WASHINGTON: Two key elements of an Afghan peace deal — Pakistan’s concerns over India’s growing influence in Afghanistan and what the US could do to allay those concerns — were both highlighted at a congressional hearing this week.
Lt Gen Kenneth McKenzie, the next chief of the US Central Command (Centcom), raised both points in a written response to the US Senate Armed Services Committee after his confirmation hearing the other day.
He also said that as Centcom chief, he “will make Pakistan a priority engagement”.
Says as Centcom chief he will make Islamabad a priority engagement
“At this time, Pakistan does not appear to be using the full extent of its influence to encourage the Taliban to come to the table,” he wrote in a response posted on the committee’s website on Wednesday.
“We continue to see the Taliban being utilised as a hedge against India rather than as part of a stable, reconciled Afghanistan,” he added.
Gen McKenzie acknowledged that Pakistan “has national interests it wants addressed in any future political settlement in the region, including a politically stable Afghanistan”.
He said that under his command, US Centcom would continue to support efforts “towards a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Afghanistan which includes ensuring that Islamabad’s equities are acknowledged in any future agreement”.
The US general said that stability in South Asia was “the most important mutual strategic interest” for both the US and Pakistan, and “we must continue to engage with Pakistani leadership to realise how we can achieve this mutual interest”.
Gen McKenzie said Pakistan was an essential element in long-term stability in Afghanistan and could play a key role in facilitating talks between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan.
The general was asked to give his assessment of the strategic relationship between the United States and Pakistan as well as to outline areas of shared strategic interest between the two countries.
Gen McKenzie replied: “The US and Pakistan military-to-military relationship is strong. We share an important strategic relationship given that Pakistan is a nuclear power that sits at the nexus of Russian, Chinese, Indian and American geopolitical interests. However, Pakistan’s action or inaction, as it relates to stability in Afghanistan, has often led to frustration between our governments and militaries.”
In reply to a question about the major challenges in US-Pakistan relationship, he said: “Despite Pakistan’s positive rhetoric in support of the South Asia Strategy, violent extremist organisations (VEOs) operate along its border with Afghanistan.
“While Pakistan has conducted some operations against VEOs in Pakistan, they must continue to expand these operations and remain aggressively engaged.
“Taking concrete steps that deny VEO safe havens in Pakistan, as well as VEO freedom of movement from Pakistan to Afghanistan, remains an important task that Pakistan needs to fulfil. Pakistan must leverage their influence over Taliban leadership to help compel them to come to the table for reconciliation negotiations.
“It is important to remember that we are asking Pakistan to focus a significant fraction of their national power away from what they perceive to be an existential threat.”
Gen McKenzie was asked what changes he would recommend to improve US relations with Pakistan, particularly in terms of military-to-military relations.
The general said Centcom continues to support the US president’s South Asia Strategy and remains committed to holding Pakistan accountable for the commitments they have made to support US efforts in finding a negotiated settlement to the Afghanistan conflict.
As for any policy changes, he added, Centcom will continue to provide coordinating support and military advice to the president and the Secretaries of Defence and State for any changes they are considering regarding US-Pakistan military-to-military relations. Since 2001, the United States has provided significant security assistance to Pakistan, including funds for reimbursement for the costs associated with military operations along the Afghan border.
The committee sought Gen McKenzie’s opinion about Pakistan’s role in helping to reconcile the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan.
“Pakistan is an essential element in long-term stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan could play a key role in facilitating talks between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan, and I would welcome that development,” the general said.
Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2018
Comments (61) Closed
Sometimes weakness can be used as an asset.
US understands Pakistan's concerns and desires. The question is whether US agrees to it and whether US can or will do anything about it.
India in Afghanistan is bad, but China in Afghanistan is good ? Let Afghanistan decide what they want .
When shall we see Pakistani foreign office to tie up Kashmir issue with Afghan issue and solve it in one go, so true peace can come in the region. Pakistan must emphasis solving Kashmir issue with Afghanistan. Because, if Kashmir issue is not resolve at this stage with the help from the United States, Pakistan will never solve Kashmir issue.
So, now you realized.
I would concentrate on my futue instead of on troubling my enemy.
There is nothing in it for Pakistan, they are just words.
The same guy comes to India and says the same thing about Pak.
Why drag India in middle all times of talks? Government should say what they can do.
Lies, lies and more lies.
Afganistan is a sovereign nation,let them decide what they want.
All these games for what?!
India will continue to increase it's influence in Afghanistan no matter whether US and Pakistan like it or not.
@Zak, Pakistan and USA both have no Options rather to reckon with strong India.
Sooner or later the world and Pakistan have to accept the new reality of emerging strong India.
India, the elephant in the room. A picture says a thousand words..
Nice talk and no aid. Actions speak louder than words
I niether like US, nor Pakistan in Afghan case. Both stands at point zero still.
The whole address is couched in nicely worded very cautious approach !
If only Pakistan minds it own business, south Asia would be a peaceful place.
After US repeatedly beseeched to Pakistan for cooperation in war- torn Afghanistan,Indian is in the middle of nowhere.
China needs a part in it too.
@Toshiza, wont happen as afghan govt is weakening
@Toshiza, Indian influence in Afghan would be not last longer they would soon sit back it's just a matter of time
India has very close relationship with Afghanistan which will not get affected by anyone else. Afghanis are brothers to Indians and have always trusted India.
@BK, like India did in Nepal and Sri Lanka?
Kick india out of Afghanistan first . Complete these prerequisites then ask us
Afghans consider Indian much closer than pakistan considers china
To displace India means spending lots of resources. Loosing too much leverage. Making yourself highly vulnerable.
@pulkit, best comment
Simple, Say NO to USA. Period
@Jawad, They are India’s allies who vote in favour of India on international stage. They even walked out of saarc summit together. You are making wrong comparison.
@420, Their whole existence is based on that obsession. Can’t end that.
Who is Pakistan to decide the relationships between India and Afghanistan?
@420, you are right. No one controls India. India can have a good relationship with any country why should any one dedicate India.
Without acknowledging that India has been using Afghan soil right under the nose of America, to spread terrorism in Pakistan, there will be no lasting improvements. First identify the problem, then word towards uprooting it.
Pakistan is on right trajectory.Now Americans have clearly realized the importance of our GREAT PAKISTAN. Diplomacy is doing well no matter who's contributing to it.
There are too many cooks having drastically different taste buds stirring from outside the cauldron not knowing nature, composition and admixture of contents inside having been and still too hot to peep in. That is why nobody knows the final outcome if and when it all cools down. How many will endure the arduous wait?And at What cost? Only time will tell.
Too little, too late.
@Sailor, the problem is they are in no position to make such a decision.
@Daniel Adam Stockman, very good suggestion sir. US is trapped in Afg and will do anything right now, even the kashmir issue. This might be the right time to bring kashmir on the table.
US General probably has to check Trump's twitter each day in the morning before discussing policy matters with others. In this situation there is not much hope that he can make any change.
@Khalil, USA can not force India nor India will listen to any country when it comes to India 's intetest.
In the end it dawned on the Americans, where the problem of Afghanistan lies. Remove the Indians and peace prevails.
General, don't promise something you have no power over, may want to check with your President, who is clueless, demands what he wants, not whats needed. You should visit Pakistan and ask Pakistan to help, when you sit there and demand, and claim Pakistan is not doing what the Americans want, you won't get far with the current PM, he's not like the previous ones, he'll get right back in your face and tell you to go take a hike.
India has built up dams bridges schools colleges govt administration's knowledge training them roads railways infrastructure and many more . Sir any of my friend in this country Pl tell us what pakistan has done for Afghanistan. It seems that this country is not happy with India Afghanistan frienship, that is why they are not giving road transit to both countries .
@Sailor, Yes lets do it. Have a complete free and fair referendum where all Afghans vote. They decide if they want china, India or Pakistan or None of the above.
@Hyderabadi, good advice for India.
@Zak, ask the Afghani people what they want. Not what Pakistan wants.
this is all about what financial and military assistance Pakistan can get out of the US especially as the $32 billions have already been spent or are in Panama.
@dipak, Seriously? Yet your country the leads the world in poverty. What good are those bridges, schools, universities and dams? enlighten us neighbor?
India is slowly but sure moving towards world number one power once again,under PM MODI the process has only accelerated. .
@Zak, They said they will
@American by heart, Yes, do ask the Afghani people , and start with the 3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, who as PM IK said, dont want to go back.
@Jp, you mean like ordering India to stop buying oil from Iran and , India complied obediently. Drop the bravado and accept your place and ststus. Thats reality.
@Zak, Don't show your ignorance, despite USA's sanctions, India is still buying oil from Iran and ALSO missiles from Russia!
@Zak, you really have no idea.India is getting oil from Iran even though Iran has gone through variois sanctions in the past years.we are getting S400 from Russia despite the sanctions.you can spread conspiracy theories only so much.get well soon.
@Arun, stop reading your misinforming media. Read any other.
‘Indian Oil Corp, the biggest refiner in India, has purchased a total of 6 million barrels of U.S. crude oil for delivery between November and January, as it has started to look for a replacement of Iranian oil cargoes ahead of the U.S. sanctions on Iran’s oil exports returning in early November. ‘
Google it.
@Zak, Can Pakistan afford to give aid to Afghan what India has given to Afghan? In fact Pakistan it self needs more than Afghan. No country other than Afghan can kick India out. Mind well India is doing more than any world country in Afghan and Afghanistan will never forget this.
@DS, Read outside media, to learn truth.
‘Data shows that the US sanctions have severely decreased Iran’s oil export and that Turkey and Italy are the last customers of Iran’s oil.’
@Markhor , SIMPLER: Just get rid of violence against one's own people!