By IANS | 23 Oct, 2015, 11.48AM IST
WASHINGTON:
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to the US with a litany of complaints against India with the hope of getting an India type nuclear deal and involving Washington in the Kashmir issue. He got neither.
Instead Sharif ended up giving President Barack Obama an assurance that Islamabad would take effective action against Pakistan based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taeba (LeT) and its affiliates responsible for the Nov 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
Apparently concerned over Pakistan's assertion that it has made low-yield nuclear weapons to bridge the gap for war that India had created through its cold-start doctrine,
Obama also cautioned Sharif against raising nuclear tensions with new weapons.
"The leaders emphasised the importance of a sustained and resilient dialogue process between the two neighbours aimed at resolving all outstanding territorial and other disputes, including Kashmir, through peaceful means and working together to address mutual concerns of India and Pakistan regarding terrorism," it said.
"In this context, the Prime Minister apprised the President about Pakistan's resolve to take effective action against United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar-e-Taeba (LeT) and its affiliates, as per its international commitments and obligations under UN Security Council resolutions and the Financial Action Task Force," the statement added.
Sharif also "reaffirmed that Pakistan's territory will not be used against any other country and noted that this is an obligation of all countries in the region." (Mush said the same thing way back in 2003 when he signed an agreement to this affect!. Then came the dastardly Mumbai pogrom and many other terror attacks that emanated from Pakistani soil! Thus this is nothing but empty rhetoric from Nawaz. Nothing is going to change. It would instead be more of the same!)
Meanwhile, a senior Administration official "categorically" ruled out any kind of negotiations with Pakistan on an India-type civil nuclear deal, terming the reports in American media as "completely false".
"Let me state categorically, we have not entered into negotiations on 123 Agreement with Pakistan nor are we seeking an exception for Pakistan within the nuclear supplier group in order to facilitate civil nuclear exports," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Read more at:
Pakistan to act against LeT; no n-deal, or US role in Kashmir - The Economic Times
Will Nawaz be taking action against the Establishment's 'strategic assets' like the LeT, JeM and Haqqani Network? Not a chance. Pakistan's entire foreign policy, 'security' and strategy depends on them. The PA needs to keep the pot boiling to remain relevant in Pak society.