Suspend all American aid to Pakistan, they harbor terrorists: US-lawmaker
The US has not seen Pakistan taking sustained and decisive actions required to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table, a top Trump administration official told lawmakers who demanded suspension of all American aid to Pakistan. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells was speaking to lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan.
Pakistan has important role to play in Afghanistan: Wells
Wells told the lawmakers that Pakistan has a particularly crucial role to play in Afghanistan as without its support, it will be challenging to achieve the US' objectives under the South Asia strategy. "While we've seen some positive steps, we have not seen the sustained and decisive actions that are really required to ensure that the Taliban take this peace process seriously," she said.
'We treat all terrorist enemies of Pakistan as our enemies'
"We do not deny that Pakistan has fought its own heroic battles against terrorism. But we treat all terrorist enemies of Pakistan as our terrorist enemies and we expect the same from Pakistan," Wells said.
'Afghanistan's biggest problem is Pakistan sheltering terrorists'
Responding to another question from Congressman Ted Poe, Wells said she agrees that the biggest problem in Afghanistan is the Pakistani sanctuaries sheltering terrorists. "The Pakistan government has hidden terrorist-leaders in the past, and somehow we still give Pakistan money thinking that they will do better. They sweet-talk us and say, 'Oh, give us more American-aid, we will go after the terrorists'" Poe said.
Pakistan does not want to prevent hostilities in Afghanistan: Congresswoman
Congresswoman Ann Wagner said that Pakistan has a clear interest in preventing the cessation of hostilities in Afghanistan, but has made itself central to American operations. She said in the past, Pakistan has wagered, correctly, that the US would rather accept Pakistan's incomplete support than lose it entirely. "I believe the president was correct to demand full cooperation from Pakistan last August," she said.
US has taken steps to suspend military-assistance to Pakistan: Wells
Wells said the US not only had direct talks with senior Pakistani leadership, but has also taken a step to suspend military-assistance, as Pakistan wasn't taking any necessary steps. "We agree that Pakistan has a lot to gain by peace in Afghanistan. The challenge is, how do you secure Pakistan's support for a negotiated political process, rather than its tolerance of proxies?" she said.
