US defence secretary-elect terms Pakistan 'essential partner'

[Ghessan]

US defence secretary-elect terms Pakistan 'essential partner'
General Lloyd Austin lauds the country's steps for Afghan peace process; vows to deter 'regional actors'


Web DeskJanuary 20, 2021

Retired Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 19. PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON:
US defence secretary-elect former General Lloyd Austin on Wednesday termed Pakistan 'an essential partner' in the Afghan peace process, saying he will deter regional actors from spoiling the peace of the region, in an apparent reference to arch-rivals India.

"Pakistan is an essential partner in any peace process in Afghanistan," Gen Austin said while responding to a question regarding his policy as the top defence official of the country.

He added, "If confirmed, I will encourage a regional approach that garners support from neighbors like Pakistan, while also deterring regional actors, from serving as spoilers to the Afghanistan peace process."
“Pakistan will play an important role in any political settlement in Afghanistan.”

Lauding Pakistan's role in the regional peace process, Gen Austin said, "I understand Pakistan has taken constructive steps to meet US requests in support of the Afghanistan peace process. Pakistan has also taken steps against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, although this progress is incomplete."

He noted that "many factors in addition to the security assistance suspension may impact Pakistan’s cooperation, including Afghanistan negotiations and the dangerous escalation following the Pulwama attack."

The former US Central Command commander added that he would focus on shared interests between Washington and Islamabad “which include training future Pakistan military leaders through the use of International Military Education and Training funds”.

Trump had suspended Pakistan participation in the IMET program in August 2018. The US administration later resumed the facility afforded to military officers from Pakistan in December 2019.
IMET affords spaces to foreign military officers at US military education institutions, such as the US Army War College and the US Naval War College.

However, the former four-star general maintained that he “will press Pakistan” to prevent its territory from being used by militants or other violent organisations” and said he would continue to build relationships with Pakistani military to “provide openings for the United States and Pakistan to cooperate on key issues”.

On December 7, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden chose retired General Lloyd Austin, who oversaw U.S. forces in the Middle East under President Barack Obama, to be his defense secretary.

US defence secretary-elect terms Pakistan essential partner | The Express Tribune

US defence secretary-elect General Lloyd Austin has termed Pakistan 'an essential partner' in the Afghan peace process.

tribune.com.pk

 

[SMC]

I don't think that's in Pakistan's interests. Afghan peace process yes, but not military ties with the US. It's in Pakistan's interests to keep US at an arms length.

 

[Clutch]

I.e. more CIA Drone Bombs on innocent Pakistani civilians and villages....

Ramp up on the American Embassy Complex ....

 

[PradoTLC]

the issue is US needs Pakistan more than Pakistan needs US..

also no mention of indian terror groups operating from Afghanistan... go figure how fair and honest americans are

 

[Ghessan]

the issue is US needs Pakistan more than Pakistan needs US..

also mention of indian terror groups operating from afganistan

and that is what i am trying to tell.
and this time let them come and let us keep the bargain table clean of anything.
let them reveal what they have and then it is our game.
but need ballz.

I.e. more CIA Drone Bombs on innocent Pakistani civilians and villages....

the thing we did timely is we fenced that border.

 

[Rank]

Hamid Karzai about Biden's statement in the context of Pakistan

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PS: It was Raheel Sharif who changed the relationship with the U.S. (No more BS), not the Americans. Martin Dempsy called him twice and awarded him with legion of merit. Despite that RS refused to accept US demands esp that bs no more.. he was also called by ex Centcom chief Lloyd Austin... Pakistani estb has changed his way of dealing with US.

 

[Path-Finder]

No thank you.

 

[Yasser76]

This is interesting, with potential CAATSA, you could see a situation of India actually being sanctioned and US Military aid to Pakistan restored. Hope everyone who wrongly claimed the old "Democrats are bad for Pak and Republicans good for Pak" now take note...

 

[Reichsmarschall]

We need to cut out military relations with them to bare minimum. They have always called themselves our friend but what kind of friend levies crippling sanction on other friend and then arm its mortal enemy.
Only entertain them if they're willing to make cpec like investment.

 

[ARMalik]

Now just wait and see how these Generals will throw themselves at the feet of the US. The shameful and disgraceful time is about to start all over again for Pakistan, and it will be the people of Pakistan once again who will suffer for these disgraceful decisions of these Generals.

 

[Yasser76]

Now just wait and see how these Generals will throw themselves at the feet of the US. The shameful and disgraceful time is about to start all over again for Pakistan, and it will be the people of Pakistan once again who will suffer for these disgraceful decisions of these Generals.

Calm down, Pak Army and Air Force have shown US finger on many occasions now, no one is running to anyone. If US can help us with training and some spares and equipment of course we will take it, we woukld be foolish not to.

 

[Ghessan]

This is interesting, with potential CAATSA, you could see a situation of India actually being sanctioned and US Military aid to Pakistan restored. Hope everyone who wrongly claimed the old "Democrats are bad for Pak and Republicans good for Pak" now take note...

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www.reuters.com

 

[IbnAbdullah]

Salaam

I think the value of Pakistan isn't in all the things it can do, but also in acting as a counter to India. As in, using Pakistan as a leverage against India.

The Chinese understand this well but the reality of this isn't lost to the Americans as well. They can threaten India indirectly by offering military equipment or support to Pakistan.

 

[Trailer23]

Hope everyone who wrongly claimed the old "Democrats are bad for Pak and Republicans good for Pak" now take note...

I'll be the first to admit that I was one of those, but in my defense - historically speaking Republicans have always come through for us in the past.

Republicans
Nixon
Bush (Sr. and Jr.)

Democrats
Clinton (both Husband & Wife)
Obama: "Do more"*

Now, if Trump turned out to be an a-hole is no surprise. He even caught his own Republicans off-guard with his policies.

*As for Biden, I will say this..., when he was Vice President to Obama - he wasn't in favor of the US going after OBL. That has been mentioned in Obama's new book.

Now we all know it was a rouse for Obama to get re-elected 'cause the withdrawal from Afghanistan wasn't happening and he needed something BIG. I suppose Modi took a page from Obama when he pulled the Pulwama stunt, but that shouldn't come as a surprise as Indra Gandhi used to do the same.

Lets see. Its still too early in the game and I think things will get a whole lot more clearer once the 1st Month of Biden's Presidency passes.

I will say this, that because of CoVid-era - if PMIK can't engage him personally, the Foreign Office needs to buck up.

I am not suggesting that we go for more F-16's (from the US), but spares are an issue. And I don't think we should rule out Foreign F-16's if there aren't any strings attached (End-User Agreement).

 

[Taimoor Khan]

"Military to Military" ties mean jackshite in this day and age when it comes to Pakistan. Those days of bending backwards for yanks for some F-sola are distant memory (unfortunately some Pakistani still get their kicks at any remote possibility of new F16s, mental issues I suppose).

America has been propelling India as its policeman in the region and against China for last many decades, this reason alone make "Military to Military" cooperation absolute non sense, when Pakistan-China relationships have moved on to next level.

Which only leaves one aspect of state to state relationship which can be worked on for mutual benefits. i.e, Geo-economic. Trade, economy, business... Lets see if yanks are willing to work with Pakistan on this, for mutual benefit ofcourse while understanding fully that CPEC is a reality and so is deep rooted Pakistan strategic partnership with China.

Qureshi says Pakistan’s focus has shifted to geo-economics - Pakistan - DAWN.COM


Qureshi says Pakistan’s focus has shifted to geo-economics