Pakistan yesterday accused the United States of using it in need and abandoning it afterwards as it expressed concerns over the growing strategic ties between the US and India.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said at a news conference here that the US’ approach was interest-based.
“They approach Pakistan whenever they need us and abandon when they don’t need Islamabad. Pakistan will convey its concerns to the US over the latest issues in the bilateral ties,” he said, adding a high-level meeting was planned between Pakistan and US officials on June 10 (today) in Islamabad.
Other officials said a high-level delegation from the US will arrive in Islamabad today amid escalated tension between the two countries.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson and Senior Director for South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council Peter Lavoy will meet Pakistan’s political and military leaderships.
The US team will hold important meetings with officials including Sartaj Aziz, Army Chief Raheel Sharif and National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (r) Nasser Khan Janjua.
Congressional restriction on financing of F-16 fighters’ sale from Foreign Military Financing program led to strain in ties with Pakistan.
US State Department official David Ranz during a Capitol Hill meeting last week had hinted that the F-16 deal was no longer possible.
He said the deal expired on May 24 as Congress did not approve the Obama administration’s plea to use US funds for subsidising the deal, adding it made ‘a significant portion’ of the military help to Pakistan ‘conditional to taking action against the Haqqani network.’
Pakistan has been getting a millions of dollars from the US Coalition Support Fund as reimbursement for its efforts to combat terrorism.
The outburst by Sartaj Aziz came after the US strongly backed India’s bid for membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The US backing came at a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barrack Obama in Washington this week during which the two sides also inked agreements to boost security and defence cooperation.
Sartaj Aziz said: “We firmly conveyed to the US that maintaining effective nuclear deterrence is critical for Pakistan’s security and only Islamabad can determine how it should respond to growing strategic imbalance in South Asia.”
He said Islamabad was for balance of power in South Asia as imbalance could be dangerous for the region. “This does not mean we don’t want good ties with the neighbours. We want good relations with India and all other states,” he maintained.
The previous day, the foreign ministry’s UN Desk held a briefing in Islamabad for diplomatic missions of NSG-member countries to put forward its argument against India’s membership and to push for its own entry to the elite group.
At the meeting, Pakistan warned that country-specific exemptions could negatively impact strategic stability in South Asia.
Both Pakistan and India have applied to be members of the 48-member NSG that regulates global nuclear commerce. While the US is backing India for the seat, China supports Pakistan. Beijing maintains if India, a non-signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, was given membership, then Pakistan too should be taken on board.
Earlier, Sartaj Aziz had told the Senate that Pakistan was lobbying ‘effectively and proactively’ in all member countries of the NSG over India’s efforts to join the exclusive club. Aziz said Pakistan’s efforts towards non-discriminatory approach will pay off.’
Yesterday, Sartaj Aziz defended the foreign policy of the government during the last three years. He said Pakistan always facilitated Afghan-led peace process for the restoration of peace in that country.
The Adviser said the recent drone attack in which Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed, “breached our sovereignty, caused a serious setback to the peace efforts and intensified hostilities in Afghanistan.”
Sartaj Aziz said the most important diplomatic achievement during the last three years was path breaking transformation in Pakistan’s strategic partnership with China.
He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor involving Chinese investment of $46 billion was a manifestation of that partnership. Under the agreements regional connectivity, communication and energy projects will be set up. Aziz said now China had become the biggest trading partner with value of $19 billion.
The Adviser said Pakistan will share its concerns with international community about threats to regional peace and stability. He said Pakistan had the right to maintain minimum nuclear deterrence to defend itself in the given situation.
Sartaj Aziz said dialogue was the only way to solution of all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India.
Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who is chairman of the Senate defence committee, said NSG member states would be considering New Delhi’s request to join the group.
Claiming Pakistan’s diplomacy had ‘failed’, Sayed said if India became a member of the NSG it would be able to block Pakistan’s entry into the group.
“We have alienated Iran and Afghanistan and the two countries are now improving their economic ties with India,” he said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently visited Afghanistan and Iran, which are immediate neighbours to Pakistan. “This is our diplomatic failure. The Indians are encircling us from all sides. Even our immediate neighbours, like Afghanistan and Iran, have gone to India. It’s a result of our failed diplomacy and traditionally passive foreign policy,” Sayed added.
Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said yesterday Pakistan had made enormous efforts to combat terrorism and support the Afghan reconciliation process.
“The international community should fully recognise that and respect Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Quadrilateral Coordination Group is formed to create enabling conditions for the Afghan reconciliation process. All relevant parties should pull together for that goal,” he added.
Shafqat Ali
Source: http://nation.com.pk/national/10-Jun-2016/us-uses-pakistan-in-need-and-w...
