Muhammad Ali
Pak-US relations had taken a turn for the worse in recent years, with the US announcing a $300 million cut in military aid to Pakistan in 2018. President Trump even attacked Pakistan on his Twitter account saying it “Pakistan was not doing enough to stop terrorism.” However, recently, tensions between the US and Pakistan have thawed with Trump praising Prime Minister Imran Khan’s role in facilitating the Afghan peace process.
Last month, Trump had said the US has developed a ‘much better’ relationship recently with Pakistan and had added that the US may set up some meetings with Pakistan.
The main sticking point between Washington and Pakistan has been the issue of the Taliban’s presence in Afghanistan.
The US has been engaged in a more than 17-year war against the group and was currently engaged in talks with it to hammer out a prospective peace deal to end the conflict. Officials of the two countries have met numerous times over the past two months.
Last year, in September, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Pakistan and met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and then newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi said that Pak-US ties had reached an ‘important point.’ He said the US had started acknowledging Pakistan’s role to ensure peace in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Khan has publicly taken credit for facilitating the peace talks between the US and Afghan Taliban and assured the US that Pakistan “will do everything within its power” to further the Afghan peace process.
Underscoring the need for an intra-Afghan dialogue, the Prime Minister said that the Afghan stakeholders should sit together to discuss the contours of their future polity after the withdrawal of foreign troops.
He reiterated Pakistan’s desire to have good neighborly relations with Afghanistan.The PM recently said: “Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi. Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people.”
A US team led by US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad has been negotiating with the Taliban representative to put an end to the longest war in Afghanistan.
Zalmay Khalilzad believes Pakistan’s role was ‘very crucial’ to peace in Afghanistan.
“We would always like Pakistan, like other countries to do more, but we appreciate what they have done so far and I have indicated and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and the President Trump that we want to have good relations with Pakistan, better relations with Pakistan,” he remarked.
Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, visited Islamabad from April 5 to 6 to continue discussions with the Pakistani civilian and military leadership on the status of the Afghanistan peace process.
He met with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary TehminaJanjua, and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
In a statement regarding his visit to Pakistan, Ambassador Khalilzad thanked the Pakistani leaders for their assistance in facilitating the travel of the Taliban’s negotiating team.
“Both sides discussed how peace in Afghanistan will also benefit Pakistan and can unlock opportunities for regional economic integration and development.
“Besides, President Trump had also written a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking Pakistan’s support in securing a “negotiated settlement” to the war in Afghanistan several weeks ago.
This came as Washington stepped up efforts to hold peace talks with the Taliban, more than 17 years after the invasion of Afghanistan.
In his letter, Trump said a settlement is “his most important regional priority”, the Pakistani foreign ministry stated. “In this regard, he has sought Pakistan’s support and facilitation”, it added.
During the visit to Pakistan, the US Commander discussed matters pertaining to Pakistan’s role in facilitating peace talks in Afghanistan. The US CENTCOM Commander also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism and the recent moves against extremist groups in Pakistan under the National Action Plan.
Underscoring the need for an intra-Afghan dialogue, the Prime Minister stated that the Afghan stakeholders should sit together to discuss the contours of their future polity after the withdrawal of foreign troops.
US has made realized that neglecting Pakistan in Afghan peace process would not let them to succeed in maintaining peace in Afghanistan.
Experts opine that the US government has realized that neglecting Pakistan in Afghan peace process would not let them to succeed in maintaining peace in Afghanistan. Hence, adopting any equation for Afghanistan’s peace and stability, Pakistan’s role would always remain crucial for a long lasting peace and prosperity.
