WASHINGTON: Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Joseph Votel Friday lauded Pakistan’s role for maintaining peace and stability in South Asia.
Giving a briefing in the Senate, General Votel said, “We have had some success with Pakistan, they’ve been more helpful in terms of bringing the Taliban to the [peace negotiating] table. As we have requested them, we have seen instances where they have taken action against the safe haven areas.”
He said Pakistan’s role for bringing Taliban to the negotiating table was appreciable.
Replying to a question about withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, the Centcom chief said, “We have not been directed to withdraw. There are no orders to withdraw anything. The political conditions of where we are in the reconciliation right now don’t merit withdrawal,” he said.
Earlier on January 17, a United States (US) delegation headed by its Special Envoy for Afghan Reconciliation Process Zalmay Khalilzad and Commander Resolute Support Mission General Austin Scott Miller, had called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi.
According to a statement released by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting discussed regional security environment and Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
The US delegation had appreciated Pakistan’s resolve towards Afghan peace process for bringing stability in the region.
On the occasion, General Qamar Javed Bajwa reiterated that peace in Afghanistan was important for Pakistan and assured continued efforts for enduring peace and stability in the region.
After 17 years, Trump wants to end US involvement in Afghanistan, where 14,000 American troops are still deployed.
But Votel said despite some positive signs in talks between the United States and the Taliban forces, there still had not been enough progress.
One ongoing problem, he noted, was that the Taliban were still unwilling to negotiate directly with the Afghan government.
In addition, Afghan government troops are not yet ready to stand on their own, he said.
“These decisions have to be based more on conditions than specific times” and must “pivot off political progress.”
“My advice is that any decision to reduce forces in Afghanistan should be done in full consultation with our coalition partners and of course the government of Afghanistan.”
“The Afghan forces are dependent on the coalition support we provide for them,” he added.
