US wants to continue improving ties with Pakistan: Pentagon
The Pentagon has said that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin conveyed to Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa about Washington’s interest in continuing to improve US-Pakistan relations.
Dawn said in a statement on Wednesday that Secretary Austin “expressed his interest in continuing to improve US-Pakistan relations and building on our many shared interests in the region”.
“Secretary Austin and General Bajwa discussed (during a telephone conversation) the current situation in Afghanistan, regional security and stability, and bilateral defense relations more broadly,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said.
He said Austin also discussed the mutual goals of security and stability in the region.
Responding to a question from a journalist, Kirby said the US is in constant talks with the Pakistani leadership about safe havens along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“We have to note that those safe havens are only providing a source of more insecurity and more instability inside Afghanistan. We are not hesitant to discuss that with Pakistani leaders,” he said.
“We are also mindful that Pakistan and the Pakistani people are also victims of terrorist activities emanating from that region. Therefore, we all share a common sense of the importance of closing those safe havens and not allowing them to be used by the Taliban. Or other terrorist networks to sow discord,” Kirby said.
“And then, we are in talks with Pakistanis all the time,” he said.
Asked what role India and Pakistan should play in Afghanistan, a Pentagon spokesperson said: “We want all neighboring countries not to take actions that make the situation in Afghanistan more dangerous than ever, and to achieve this.” Continue to try to use international pressure to negotiate a peaceful political settlement for this war.”
.