Pakistan has made some efforts to prevent terrorists from using its soil to promote terrorism, a US official admitted, but that does not mean the United States of America will resume its security funding to Pakistan anytime soon.
Pakistan is yet to take any decisive actions against the Haqqani network, an Afghan guerrilla insurgent group, Joseph Votel, commander of the US Central Command told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee said.
"That's the current posture.And I would imagine, hopefully, in the future, well have an opportunity to (review)," he said.
The US earlier withdrew about $2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan and stepped up pressure on Islamabad to weed out insurgents from its soil. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump said in a tweet that America has received nothing in return for the more than $33 billion it invested in Pakistan over the past 15 years.
“They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” Trump wrote on Twitter. “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools.”
Since the suspension of security aid, the US has reportedly seen positive response from Pakistan. Increase in communication and information sharing are just two of them.
“I think what is also working right now is the approach that we have in place with them," said Votel. "I think we have tried to be very clear in terms of the things that we Pakistan to do for us. And what I have endeavoured to do — not always in a public way, but in a private way — is develop a relationship that allows us to provide feedback both ways."
He also noted that achieving stability in Pakistan will not be possible without Pakistan's help.
SS Tilawa
