Address issue of Haqqani network, US to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: True to form, the US Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ambassador Alice Wells, while seeking a “new relationship” with Pakistan, urged Islamabad, to address the continuing presence of the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups within its territory.

Earlier on Monday after her meeting at the Foreign Office with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and her team, there was no mention of the ‘do more mantra” by the US nor any mention of the presence of the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups inside Pakistan, in the FO press statement.

Rather the Ambassador on Monday was quoted as acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts in eradicating terrorism.

The fact that there was no joint statement was an indication that Ambassador Wells would release the US version on her departure.

In a statement released by the US Embassy on Tuesday, Ambassador Wells has “underlined” the fact that the United States “seeks” to move towards a “new” relationship with Pakistan, based on their mutual interest in realising a stable and prosperous region.

“Acknowledging Pakistan’s considerable sacrifices fighting terrorism, Ambassador Wells emphasised that the US South Asia strategy represents an opportunity to work together for the establishment of a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, the defeat of ISIS in South Asia, and the elimination of terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States”, added the statement.

Even as Wells urged the government of Pakistan to address the continuing presence of the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups within its territory, the response from Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was loud and clear.

“During his visit (to Sri Lanka) Gen Bajwa claimed that after having cleared "troubled areas from terrorists of all hues and colours", Pakistan is now cracking down on militants' "disorganised residual presence under Operation Raddul Fasaad", said a statement from ISPR.

Interestingly, even as Ambassador Alice flew out, Gen Bajwa delivered on a promise he had made to President Ashraf Ghani last October. He had said that Pakistan would soon obtain a fatwa forbidding suicide bombings labelling them as unislamic. Lately, Ashraf Ghani had remarked that he was still waiting for this fatwa.

The October Bajwa-Ghani meeting in Kabul was “candid, positive, respectful, constructive and encouraging in a long time,” said Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Zakhilwal, who also attended the talks. Tuesday saw more than 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics issuing a fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings.