Summary The visiting US defence secretary acknolwedged Pakistan's sacrifices in war on terror.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News/AFP) – United States (US) Defence Secretary James Mattis and Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has agreed to continue Pakistan-US cooperation in fight against terrorism.
According to a notification issued after the meeting, PM Abbasi told the US secretary and the visiting delegation that there are no terror hideouts in Pakistan and that intelligence-based security operations are underway across Pakistan to maintain peace and security.
On the occasion, US defence secretary said that his Pakistan visit aims at securing a positive, steady and long-term ties between the two states. He acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in war on terror and extremism and lauded professional capabilities of the army.
PM Abbasi said that Pakistan is desirous of partnership with the States and that Pakistan would benefit the most out of peace in Afghanistan which is why the government pushes for it.
He appreciated US resolve to not let Afghanistan soil get used for terror attacks in Pakistan.
During the meeting, PM Abbasi asserted that the government would act to make achievements in war on terror in the past four years more fruitful.
Visiting delegation of the States include senior defence officials led by James Mattis in addition to the ambassador of the States in Pakistan.
On the other hand, a notification issued by the embassy of the States in Pakistan states that US can play a vital role to restore peace in Afghanistan for the betterment of the region and that Pakistan needs to put up more efforts to eliminate extremism.
The prevalent ties
The visit, his first as defense secretary, came days after the US voiced concerns after a Pakistani court freed one of the alleged masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and as the US pushes its longtime ally to do more to combat insurgents who allegedly use bases in Pakistan s tribal belt to target NATO troops in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has consistently rejected claims it supports Taliban-allied forces, insisting it maintains contacts with insurgents only as a means to bring them to the table for peace talks.
Last week the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, said Islamabad had not carried out the "clear" demands made by Washington.
But en route to Pakistan Mattis told reporters he would not use pressure as a tactic, and insisted he would do "some listening".
When asked if he would "prod" Islamabad to take more action, he replied: "That s not the way I deal with issues. I believe that we work hard on finding the common ground, and then we work together, so that s the approach I want to take."
A statement released later Monday from Abbasi s office echoed the term "common ground", and said Mattis had emphasised he was "keenly aware" of the thousands of lives Pakistan has lost in its long battle with militancy.
But Mattis s comments stood in contrast to more strident language from the CIA chief at a security forum over the weekend.
When asked about US efforts to push Pakistan to clear safe havens, CIA director Mike Pompeo suggested Washington was prepared to move if its ally failed to act.
"In the absence of the Pakistanis achieving that, we re going to do everything we can to make sure that safe haven no longer exists," said Pompeo.
