WASHINGTON: The United States has high hopes for a respectful and better relationship with Pakistan, especially after the visit of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford, a Pentagon official said Thursday.
Speaking at an event organised to commemorate the Defense and Martyrs Day here at the Pakistani Embassy, Assistant Defence Secretary for Department of Defence’s Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall G Schriver said the military linkages between the two countries have always remained a strong foundation for the two-way relationship.”This is a day to celebrate your armed forces … It’s also a day to remember those who have sacrificed. And that very much includes the sacrifices made in the war on terror,” he said.
The Pentagon official then spoke of the bumpy but somewhat healthy relationship that the US and Pakistan have maintained ever since the 9/11 attacks, saying the ally nation “was a friend, a supporter, and a key partner in our building to do that and has remained a key partner since.””We know about the sacrifices that Pakistan has made in this long war on terror and we don’t take those sacrifices lightly. We value this relationship, we value this partnership,” he added.
Noting that Pakistan is an important partner and an ally of the US, the Pentagon official noted that Islamabad has offered multiple sacrifices in the war against terrorism and that Washington respects these losses.”We were important partners in a number of key areas, including our efforts to degrade Al Qaeda, the efforts to defeat Daesh, the efforts made to the United Nations in peacekeeping, these are all areas where we cooperated and are achieving results and success,” he commented.
The United States is making active efforts to improve its relationship with the Pakistan Army, Schriver said, adding that the talks held between Pompeo, Dunford and Islamabad’s top brass were in a favourable environment.Pompeo, he said, emerged from that visit with very hopeful words. “In every conversation … every interaction, he had a sense of hope that we are on a better path.”
Schriver said that Washington hopes to improve this relationship and restore this toward full cooperation in all areas.”We are very heartened by that. We look forward to building on the momentum that that visit created.”
The Pentagon official also commented on the commendable personal relations between the top military officials of two countries.
“We, at the Department of Defence, feel as though our relationship with Gen Qamar [Bajwa] is the bedrock and the real pillar of US-Pakistan relations.I see that with Secretary [Jim] Mattis, General Dunford, General [Joseph] Votel; they all have personal ties, personal relationships, people they can pick up the phone and call, and those are relationships that are developed over years and years of interaction.”
Published in Daily Times, September 8th 2018.
