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Joint Military Operations Out Of The Question: Pakistan

Pakistani policymakers have put together their agenda for talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who will arrive in Islamabad later this month to enlist “Pakistan’s help for American effort to reach a peaceful solution in Afghanistan”, Pakistan’s the Express Tribune reported.

President Donald Trump’s top foreign policy aide would be told that Pakistan is willing to further strengthen the intelligence information sharing mechanism with the US, the reported stated. 

However, the Express Tribune reported that Tillerson will be informed that a joint counterterrorism operation on its soil with American or Afghan forces “is out of the question”. 

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, said in a television interview that Pakistan has offered the United States a joint operation against terrorists on its soil. However, he later clarified that he never said Pakistan would allow foreign boots on the ground.

According to sources, Pakistani officials have prioritized the issues to be taken up with Tillerson which include the recent strain in Pakistan-US ties; Trump’s new Afghan strategy; Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process; and Pakistan’s reservations on India’s role in Afghanistan, among others, reported the Express Tribune. 

Sources also told the newspaper that Pakistan would make clear to Tillerson that the US’s policy of pushing Pakistan to ‘do more’ must end ‘as no other country has done as much as Pakistan has in the global war against terrorism.’

“It would also be conveyed to Tillerson that Pakistan wants to promote relationship with the US on the basis of sovereign equality,” another source told the Daily Express.

The Express Tribune also reported that sources said that Pakistani officials would also ask Tillerson to impress upon the administration of President Ashraf Ghani to dismantle the sanctuaries of terrorists who are using Afghan soil as a launching pad for mounting attacks inside Pakistan. 

Sources said that Tillerson’s visit was very significant as it would clarify Trump’s policy and set a course for future Islamabad-Washington relations.

Joint Military Operations Out Of The Question: Pakistan

Pakistan has stated that US Secretary of State will be informed that no joint operation on Pakistan soil involving US or Afghan forces will be permitted. 

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Pakistani policymakers have put together their agenda for talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who will arrive in Islamabad later this month to enlist “Pakistan’s help for American effort to reach a peaceful solution in Afghanistan”, Pakistan’s the Express Tribune reported.

President Donald Trump’s top foreign policy aide would be told that Pakistan is willing to further strengthen the intelligence information sharing mechanism with the US, the reported stated. 

However, the Express Tribune reported that Tillerson will be informed that a joint counterterrorism operation on its soil with American or Afghan forces “is out of the question”. 

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, said in a television interview that Pakistan has offered the United States a joint operation against terrorists on its soil. However, he later clarified that he never said Pakistan would allow foreign boots on the ground.

According to sources, Pakistani officials have prioritized the issues to be taken up with Tillerson which include the recent strain in Pakistan-US ties; Trump’s new Afghan strategy; Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process; and Pakistan’s reservations on India’s role in Afghanistan, among others, reported the Express Tribune. 

Sources also told the newspaper that Pakistan would make clear to Tillerson that the US’s policy of pushing Pakistan to ‘do more’ must end ‘as no other country has done as much as Pakistan has in the global war against terrorism.’

“It would also be conveyed to Tillerson that Pakistan wants to promote relationship with the US on the basis of sovereign equality,” another source told the Daily Express.

The Express Tribune also reported that sources said that Pakistani officials would also ask Tillerson to impress upon the administration of President Ashraf Ghani to dismantle the sanctuaries of terrorists who are using Afghan soil as a launching pad for mounting attacks inside Pakistan. 

Sources said that Tillerson’s visit was very significant as it would clarify Trump’s policy and set a course for future Islamabad-Washington relations.

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