WASHINGTON: The focus of debate shifted on Wednesday from Afghanistan to India-Pakistan relations as Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif had his first encounter with US lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

In official statements, both US and Pakistani sides continued to focus on Afghanistan and the operation against militants in Fata, but the debate in Washington’s diplomatic circles shifted dramatically following reports that Pakistan was also urging the United States to use its influence to reduce tensions on the Indian border.

BBC reported earlier Wednesday that Gen Sharif had highlighted current developments in India-Pakistan relations in a series of meetings with senior US officials.

According to the report, he told the Americans that continuous violation of ceasefire at the Line of Control and the working boundary had also affected Pakistan’s operation against terrorists in Fata.

He spent his first day in Washington at the Pentagon, meeting senior defence officials and generals and also received the US Legion of Merit medal in recognition of “his brave leadership, sagacity, vision and efforts for peace and stability in the region”.

On Wednesday, he met members of the two senate committees — on intelligence and foreign relations — on Capitol Hill.

The BBC report highlighted an issue — situation on the LoC and the working border — that was already mentioned by Pakistani and US officials in earlier statements.

Chief spokesman for the Pakistani military, Maj Gen Asim Bajwa, tweeted from Tampa earlier this week that “Indian aggression along the line of control (was) also discussed” in meetings with Centcom officials.

In another tweet, he said that Gen Sharif gave “Pakistan’s perspective on regional security (and on) improving Pak-Afghan military relation”.

In his third tweet, Maj Gen Bajwa said that Gen. Sharif focused on “regional security and stability”.

In a statement on Gen Sharif’s meetings at the US Department of Defence, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm John Kirby said: “The leaders discussed regional security issues and their commitment to an enduring partnership.”

In their official statements, the United States and Pakistan often used the term “regional security” while referring to troubles on the India-Pakistan border.

“They also emphasised the importance of sustained and substantive dialogue as we continue to develop the bilateral military-to-military relationship,” Mr Kirby said.

The official who spoke to BBC, and was not identified in the report, however, gave more details about how the Pakistani delegation highlighted border tensions in their meetings with US defence officials.

Gen Sharif, according to him, said that heavy firing by Indian troops along the border and statements issued by Indians leaders were affecting Pakistan’s campaign in fighting against extremism.

Gen Sharif also told US officials that Pakistan had deployed 140,000 troops on its western borders after getting assurance that there would be peace with India on its eastern borders which did not happen.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2014