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‘Opportunity for Saudi Arabia to be key interlocutor between U.S., Pakistan’

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During the meetings, the the Trump Administration plans to discuss the new South Asia policy and seek the Kingdom’s help in Pakistan taking action towards elimination of terrorist safe havens inside its territory.
The White House on Monday said there is an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to be a key interlocutor between the U.S. and Pakistan, as President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction over “bare minimum” actions taken by Islamabad against terror groups.

“As you well know the Saudis have a long deeper relationship with Pakistan. There’s opportunities within that for the partner to provide, be a key interlocutor, if you will, so that there’s no misunderstanding between the U.S. in Pakistan to convey not just messages, but also to identify opportunities for both parties to help them,” a senior administration official said.

The remarks gains significance on the eve of the White House visit of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for whom the Trump Administration is throwing a red-carpet welcome.

During the meetings, the the Trump Administration plans to discuss the new South Asia policy and seek the Kingdom’s help in Pakistan taking action towards elimination of terrorist safe havens inside its territory.

Breaking the traditional protocol U.S. President Donald Trump will receive the Crown Prince Salman at the White House.

It is slated to have one-o-one meeting at the Oval Office and then host him over a working lunch at the White House. These protocols are normally reserved for the heads of a state of a major country or a top ally and partner of the U.S.

Major topics on discussion between the two leaders will is the current situation in region, Syria and Yemen, Iran’s behaviour and the Middle East Peace process. They will also discuss bilateral issues, including Saudi investment in America’s infrastructure and defence trade, the senior administration official said on condition of anonymity.

Noting that Saudi Arabia recognises the importance the Trump Administration’s place on South Asian Strategy, the official said that this is one of such initiatives where they offered to assist for example, funding for the Afghan national security forces.

There’s some discussions about, could they host a donor’s conference in Kuwait, have the donor’s conference for reconstruction, which would be economically quite beneficial, mutually beneficial in terms of support for the Afghan government or support in the direction U.S. is trying to go in countering extremism in Saudi Arabia, the official said.

This is a unique opportunity, the official noted.

While countries are saying that this is an American priority, the instability in South Asia has larger implications for the region.

Countries can work with the U.S. to address a common security challenges in a way that can be much more efficient but also more effective, and hopefully bringing these conflicts to a resolution, the official said.

Noting that Saudi Arabia is a key partner and an all-time friend of the U.S., the official said for Mr. Trump, his visit to the Kingdom was certainly one was of the high points of his first year in office.

“Saudi Arabia, security as a priority for the US. Over the past nine months, Congress has approved $ 54 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The department of defence has continued several programmes to build its capacity and capability. We also have close and strong economic relationship with Saudi Arabia,” the official said.

“We continue to engage with our Saudi partners on their plans for civil nuclear program and possibly the United States supply of nuclear equipment expertise and material,” the official said.

“We are expanding our cooperation on countering Arabian influence in the region to terrorists in Syria and Yemen and elsewhere and cutting off funding for terrorists and extremists across the region,” the official said.

“On a regular basis we are engaging directly with senior leadership and we will keep those engagements in the next several weeks on a broad range of issues, increasing our coordination on Middle East regional issues, advancing shared strategic objectives and developing new channels and capabilities by which we can institutionalize each interact and make them more effective,” the official added.

This week, the U.S., Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are launching a trilateral dialogue at the national security advisor level, which will engage monthly on issues of strategic importance, like maligning Iranian activities in the region and implementation of the U.S. South Asia strategy.

“The President’s meeting with the crown prince tomorrow, there is a tremendous opportunity to make progress on a range of issues and strengthened these bilateral relations,” the official said.

Mr. Trump and the Crown Prince among other things will discuss countering extremism, Russia’s role in supporting the Assad regime’s atrocities in Syria, the official said.



http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...cutor-between-us-pakistan/article23299056.ece
 
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In reality this is kabuli vs taliban.. If taliban only wants to talk with U.S then pressuring pakistan cant work. Talibans are pretty independent people,they dont need masters except U.S :yes4: So sound like US Would still be a master but on behalf of KSA ? o_O

Taliban sets condition to reconnect Kabul electricity

The Taliban militants group has claimed responsibility for intentionally cutting the electricity transmission line for Kabul, emphasizing that the transmission lines supplying electricity to Kabul will remain non-operational until the government has not started work on public welfare projects in northern Kunduz and Baghlan provinces.

A statement by the Taliban group states that the electricity transmission lines supplying electricity to Kabul have been disconnected inreaction to the recent decisions of the government.

The group has demanded that electricity issues of Chahar Dara district in Kunduz must resolved as soon as possible and electricity issues regarding Gul Tapa area should be resolved as well in a bid to ensure the uninterrupted supply of electricity to Kabul via northern provinces.

Taliban has also demanded the supply of electricity to Dahana-e-Ghori of Pul-e-Khumricity in Baghlan province from Khwajah Alwan district.

The group also claims that the electricitysupply for Omar Khel and Aka Khel areas have been approved but the work on the project is suspended, insisting that the group demandsimmediate start of the work on the project.

Taliban says the issues surrounding the BalaDori Maktab and Bibi Aina transformers must be resolved as well before the group allows the reconnection of electricity supply to Kabul.

https://www.khaama.com/taliban-sets-condition-to-reconnect-kabul-electricity-04679/

Islamabad still considering Kabul's offer of talks, overtures

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan is still considering Afghanistan's recent overtures, including an invitation that Pakistani prime minister visit Kabul — an offer that analysts see as a good sign, underscoring that dialogue between the two often uneasy neighbors is key to defeating militants on both sides of the border.

Islamabad says it wants to consult the country's political and military leadership before accepting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's invitation, which followed a visit last weekend to Kabul by Pakistan's National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua and also last month's offer by Ghani of unconditional talks with the Taliban.

The Taliban have not responded yet but Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Moahmmad Faisal told The Associated Press on Tuesday the country's political and military leaders are carefully considering the invitation before drafting a proposal for Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

"All stake-holders will consider the invitation in order to prepare a brief for the prime minister, who will decide about his possible visit to Kabul," Faisal said.
Ghani delivered the invitation for Abbasi during his meeting with Janjua, who also held talks with his Afghan counterpart, National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar.

The meetings were a bright spot in an otherwise acrimonious relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which routinely trade accusations that each country harbors militants who attack the other.

Since the beginning of the year, Pakistan has been under increasing U.S. pressure to end what Washington says are safe havens for militants, particular those of the Haqqani network, which is blamed for some of the most horrific attacks in Kabul. Pakistan denies the accusation but Washington still went ahead and suspended military aid to Pakistan that could total more than $2 billion.

The last time a Pakistani prime minister was in Kabul was in 2015 and a visit by Abbasi now would be hugely significant.

"It's an opportunity Pakistan should consider with an open heart," said Hasan Askari, a Lahore based analyst. "Improved relations with Afghanistan would be in Pakistan's interest and will help stabilize the region."

Moonis Ahmar, professor of international relations at the University of Karachi, said the gesture is welcome but that more trust is needed between the two countries.

Also, the decades-old dispute between Pakistan and India figures prominently in Islamabad's relationship with Kabul and finding a route to peaceful co-existence will have to take into account those sentiments, Ahmar added.

Pakistan is concerned over India's increased influence in Afghanistan and accuses New Delhi of using Afghan territory to foment unrest inside Pakistan, particularly in the restive southwestern Baluchistan province

Ghani's invitation comes on heels of the Afghan president's peace offer to the Taliban last month, in which he offered unconditional talks. Pakistan, which lauded Ghani's offer, is considered to be the only party that can bring the Taliban to the negotiation table.

Pakistan's prime minister also held an unscheduled meeting with Vice President Mike Pence last Friday, causing some to suggest there could be a warming in the U.S.-Pakistani relations.

How that plays into Ghani's offer remains to be seen.

Imtiaz Gul, who heads the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies, said Afghanistan's leaders see the dividends of burying the acrimony that has characterized past relations with Pakistan.

Still, Gul said, talks between Kabul and Islamabad can succeed only if India drops its opposition to the economic corridor China is developing jointly with Pakistan linking the Arabian Sea port of Gawadar to China.

Kabul-based analyst Waheed Muzhda says he is not optimistic of an early thaw, stressing that Afghans remain distrustful of their neighbor and that for Kabul, simply, "Pakistan is not honest."

Muzhda said the overtures were being made to Pakistan because both the United States and Afghanistan fear stepped-up fighting with the coming warm weather and would like to see Islamabad pressure the Taliban to talk peace rather than continue fighting. But Pakistan's influence over the Taliban is overstated, he added.

Javid Faisal, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, said Pakistan could acquiesce to talks with Afghanistan mainly because of international pressure.

"What we want from Pakistan is more evidence that they can be trusted," he said.





 
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taliban independent of Pakistan
it is more like they are arm of the Pakistani establishment
 
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There is nothing any country can do about it. First thing first, US needs to shut down Indian consulates where they train terrorists. They attack Pakistan. That needs to be addressed before Pakistan helps US reduce their body-bag count lol.
 
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taliban independent of Pakistan
it is more like they are arm of the Pakistani establishment
Talibans were the heroes of U.S first and regional countries utlized them too.
Do you have evidence of your claim in current circumstances?. If not then shut your propagandist mouth.
 
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What did USA exactly do to create the Taliban ??
First it was clan of hardcore ex afghan war vet to provide security to trade conveys in Afghanistan . Because after Afghan war trade coveys frequently become victim of looting and extortion etc etc from different groups. Later they become so powerful and start calling them Talibans.
 
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