ahlam1399
01-10-2018, 06:42 PM
ISLAMABAD: Various statements coming from Washington could be an interesting sequel to the latest smash hit, ?Fire and Fury?, Michael Wolff?s ?instant best-seller?.
Desperate attempts are being made in an overt and covert exercise in damage control to the January 1 policy statement on Pakistan by the US President Donald Trump. Pakistan was called all sorts of name by a president who childishly and dangerously boasted that his nuclear button is bigger than that of North Korea?s by stating, ?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. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!?
If all caution was thrown to the winds on New Year?s day, what follows nine days after are assurances and vague policy statements basically underlying that ?all is not lost in Pak-US relations?.
?We will continue these conversations with the Pakistani government in private,? say US officials, but the Foreign Office is keeping everything under wraps, far from the glare of the media, to ensure that these ?conversations? continue uninterrupted and do not get side-tracked. While neither Washington and Islamabad agree on the exact amount of civil and military assistance delivered and the exact amount in the pipeline, various figures are being thrown up by both capitals. Background briefings in Washington point to the fact that attempts are being made to ?soften? the Trump New Year blow by saying that the security assistance suspended was in reality ?reversible?, in exchange for ?good behaviour? if Rawalpindi stopped providing safe sanctuaries to Afghan Taliban. During one background briefing by the State Department, an official was quoted as saying, ?Everything we are talking about is reversible.? The same view is being held by the US Defence Department.
However, those in Islamabad who are involved with talks with Washington at every level, civil and military, disagree that attempts are being made by the Trump administration to ?soften the blow? of January 1.
Talking to The News, they point out, ?We are continuously in talks with the Trump administration at every level, in Islamabad and Washington. It is not entirely correct to say that there are attempts to ?soften the January 1 blow?, rather tough negotiations are continuing and some give and take is but inevitable and some decision will finally have to be arrived at.?
If these negotiations fail, then the Trump administration will no doubt revert to the January 1 tweet policy, without showing any sort of mercy.
Pakistan is gearing up for such an eventuality. Radio Pakistan reported that the United States says it stands ready to work with Pakistan for the resolution of security aid suspension issue and to combat terrorist groups without distinction. According to the state-run radio, Pentagon spokesperson Col Rob Manning told reporters in Washington that the United States hopes that Islamabad will take decisive action against terrorist and militant groups. He said suspension was not a permanent cut off. He said security funding and pending deliveries will be frozen, but not cancelled or reprogrammed at this time. The Pentagon and the State Department officials left the door open for reconciliation with Islamabad.
?Pakistan remains an important country in the region and in the world, and has historically been a vital partner for the US?.The United States acknowledges and appreciates Pakistan?s successful efforts to combat militants that threaten the Pakistani state, such as the Pakistani Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS. And Pakistan has sacrificed a significant amount, including tens of thousands of military and security officials, as well as civilians killed in the fight against terrorism,? says one official. At the moment, the Trump administration is asking for the moon, but as experts involved point out that such parleys always start off with a bit of give and take. ?Taliban and Haqqani leadership and attack planners should no longer be able to find safe haven or conduct operations from Pakistani soil,? is the demand from the Trump administration. Civil and military bureaucrats here face their greatest challenge in the coming days and only end of January when President Trumps gears up to speak publicly again, will it be clear whether Pakistan has been able to made its voice heard and accepted at the high table.?But what is certainly not helping our case is what has been happening in Balochistan, added to which was the terrorist attack today, further weakening our position,? says one interlocutor.
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Desperate attempts are being made in an overt and covert exercise in damage control to the January 1 policy statement on Pakistan by the US President Donald Trump. Pakistan was called all sorts of name by a president who childishly and dangerously boasted that his nuclear button is bigger than that of North Korea?s by stating, ?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. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!?
If all caution was thrown to the winds on New Year?s day, what follows nine days after are assurances and vague policy statements basically underlying that ?all is not lost in Pak-US relations?.
?We will continue these conversations with the Pakistani government in private,? say US officials, but the Foreign Office is keeping everything under wraps, far from the glare of the media, to ensure that these ?conversations? continue uninterrupted and do not get side-tracked. While neither Washington and Islamabad agree on the exact amount of civil and military assistance delivered and the exact amount in the pipeline, various figures are being thrown up by both capitals. Background briefings in Washington point to the fact that attempts are being made to ?soften? the Trump New Year blow by saying that the security assistance suspended was in reality ?reversible?, in exchange for ?good behaviour? if Rawalpindi stopped providing safe sanctuaries to Afghan Taliban. During one background briefing by the State Department, an official was quoted as saying, ?Everything we are talking about is reversible.? The same view is being held by the US Defence Department.
However, those in Islamabad who are involved with talks with Washington at every level, civil and military, disagree that attempts are being made by the Trump administration to ?soften the blow? of January 1.
Talking to The News, they point out, ?We are continuously in talks with the Trump administration at every level, in Islamabad and Washington. It is not entirely correct to say that there are attempts to ?soften the January 1 blow?, rather tough negotiations are continuing and some give and take is but inevitable and some decision will finally have to be arrived at.?
If these negotiations fail, then the Trump administration will no doubt revert to the January 1 tweet policy, without showing any sort of mercy.
Pakistan is gearing up for such an eventuality. Radio Pakistan reported that the United States says it stands ready to work with Pakistan for the resolution of security aid suspension issue and to combat terrorist groups without distinction. According to the state-run radio, Pentagon spokesperson Col Rob Manning told reporters in Washington that the United States hopes that Islamabad will take decisive action against terrorist and militant groups. He said suspension was not a permanent cut off. He said security funding and pending deliveries will be frozen, but not cancelled or reprogrammed at this time. The Pentagon and the State Department officials left the door open for reconciliation with Islamabad.
?Pakistan remains an important country in the region and in the world, and has historically been a vital partner for the US?.The United States acknowledges and appreciates Pakistan?s successful efforts to combat militants that threaten the Pakistani state, such as the Pakistani Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS. And Pakistan has sacrificed a significant amount, including tens of thousands of military and security officials, as well as civilians killed in the fight against terrorism,? says one official. At the moment, the Trump administration is asking for the moon, but as experts involved point out that such parleys always start off with a bit of give and take. ?Taliban and Haqqani leadership and attack planners should no longer be able to find safe haven or conduct operations from Pakistani soil,? is the demand from the Trump administration. Civil and military bureaucrats here face their greatest challenge in the coming days and only end of January when President Trumps gears up to speak publicly again, will it be clear whether Pakistan has been able to made its voice heard and accepted at the high table.?But what is certainly not helping our case is what has been happening in Balochistan, added to which was the terrorist attack today, further weakening our position,? says one interlocutor.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/cwEr/~4/A56EyWNa9eQ
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/cwEr/~3/A56EyWNa9eQ/266680-attempts-being-made-to-soften-trump-s-new-year-blow)