WASHINGTON: US Protection Secretary Jim Mattis stated on Tuesday the US would strive “another time” to work with Pakistan in Afghanistan earlier than President Donald Trump would flip to choices to deal with Islamabad’s alleged assist for militant teams.
Relations between the 2 international locations have been frayed over the previous decade. Whereas officers have lengthy questioned the position Pakistan has performed in Afghanistan, the feedback by Mattis are prone to trigger concern in Islamabad and inside the Pakistan army.
“We have to strive another time to make this technique work with them, by, with and thru the Pakistanis, and if our greatest efforts fail, the president is ready to take no matter steps are needed,” Mattis stated at a Home Armed Providers Committee listening to.
Mattis added that he could be touring to Islamabad quickly, however didn’t give extra particulars.
Reuters first reported that attainable Trump administration responses being mentioned embody increasing US drone strikes and maybe ultimately downgrading Pakistan’s standing as a significant non-NATO ally.
When requested by a lawmaker whether or not revoking of Pakistan’s main non-NATO ally was among the many choices being thought-about to take care of Islamabad, Mattis stated: “I’m positive it is going to be.”
In a separate Senate listening to on Tuesday, the highest US army officer stated he believed Pakistan’s predominant spy company, the Inter-Providers Intelligence (ISI) directorate, had ties to militant teams.
“It’s clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist teams,” Marine Corps Common Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, informed the Senate Armed Providers Committee.
The Pakistan embassy in Washington didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
America in 2012 designated the Pakistan-based Haqqani community as a terrorist group. The 12 months earlier than, US Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, then the highest US army officer, brought on a stir when he informed Congress that the Haqqani community was a “veritable arm” of the ISI directorate.
Pakistan argues that it has achieved an ideal deal to assist the US in monitoring down terrorists and factors out that it has suffered tons of of deaths in Islamist militant assaults in response to its crackdowns.
US officers have informed Reuters that the US will ship about three,500 further troops to Afghanistan.
Dunford stated that the present value for the US in Afghanistan was about $12.5 billion a 12 months, and the brand new technique would value a further $1.1 billion.
WASHINGTON: US Protection Secretary Jim Mattis stated on Tuesday the US would strive “another time” to work with Pakistan in Afghanistan earlier than President Donald Trump would flip to choices to deal with Islamabad’s alleged assist for militant teams.
Relations between the 2 international locations have been frayed over the previous decade. Whereas officers have lengthy questioned the position Pakistan has performed in Afghanistan, the feedback by Mattis are prone to trigger concern in Islamabad and inside the Pakistan army.
“We have to strive another time to make this technique work with them, by, with and thru the Pakistanis, and if our greatest efforts fail, the president is ready to take no matter steps are needed,” Mattis stated at a Home Armed Providers Committee listening to.
Mattis added that he could be touring to Islamabad quickly, however didn’t give extra particulars.
Reuters first reported that attainable Trump administration responses being mentioned embody increasing US drone strikes and maybe ultimately downgrading Pakistan’s standing as a significant non-NATO ally.
When requested by a lawmaker whether or not revoking of Pakistan’s main non-NATO ally was among the many choices being thought-about to take care of Islamabad, Mattis stated: “I’m positive it is going to be.”
In a separate Senate listening to on Tuesday, the highest US army officer stated he believed Pakistan’s predominant spy company, the Inter-Providers Intelligence (ISI) directorate, had ties to militant teams.
“It’s clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist teams,” Marine Corps Common Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, informed the Senate Armed Providers Committee.
The Pakistan embassy in Washington didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
America in 2012 designated the Pakistan-based Haqqani community as a terrorist group. The 12 months earlier than, US Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, then the highest US army officer, brought on a stir when he informed Congress that the Haqqani community was a “veritable arm” of the ISI directorate.
Pakistan argues that it has achieved an ideal deal to assist the US in monitoring down terrorists and factors out that it has suffered tons of of deaths in Islamist militant assaults in response to its crackdowns.
US officers have informed Reuters that the US will ship about three,500 further troops to Afghanistan.
Dunford stated that the present value for the US in Afghanistan was about $12.5 billion a 12 months, and the brand new technique would value a further $1.1 billion.