Military basis and Afghan peace: US, Pakistan engage on high level

KABUL (Pajhwok): With foreign troops withdrawing from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the US have made high level official engagements that show Islamabad is required to play a critical role.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin on his twitter handler wrote: “Today I had the chance to speak with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General QamarJavedBajwa. I reiterated my appreciation for the US-Pakistan relationship and my desire to continue to work together to further regional security and stability.”

According to the read out Austin reiterated Pakistan’s appreciation for support to Afghan peace process and expressed his desire to continue to build on US, Pakistan bilateral relationship.

Earlier, David F. Helvey, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs, told the US Senate Armed Services Committee last week that the United States would continue its conversation with Pakistan because it had a critical role in restoring peace to Afghanistan.

The official was replying to a question from Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, who asked him to “outline your assessment of Pakistan, and particularly of Pakistani intelligence agencies, and the role you expect them to play in our future”.

“Pakistan has played an important role in Afghanistan. They supported the Afghan peace process. Pakistan also has allowed us to have over-flight and access to be able to support our military presence in Afghanistan,” MrHelvey said.

“We will continue our conversations with Pakistan because their support and contribution to the future of Afghanistan, to future peace in Afghanistan, is going to be critical,” he added.

There was also recently a meeting between national security advisers Jake Sullivan of the US and Moeed Yusuf of Pakistan, according to a statement jointly issued by them, “agreed to advance practical cooperation”.

This was the first highest-level physical contact between the two countries since the Biden administration took office.

The meeting between Pakistan NSA Dr Moeed Yusuf and his American counterpart Jake Sullivan is the first in-person high-level contact between the two countries since the Biden administration assumed office in January.

“The National Security Advisers of Pakistan and the United States of America met in Geneva yesterday. Both sides had a positive conversation on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to advance practical cooperation on these issues,” a joint statement issued by Yusuf’s office said.

A brief statement issued by US National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne was worded similarly: “Both sides discussed a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest and discussed ways to advance practical cooperation. Both sides agreed to continue the conversation.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has denied the presence of any US military or air base in Pakistan, stating that any speculation is “baseless and irresponsible” and should be avoided.

In a statement issued late Monday night, FO spokesperson ZahidHafeezChaudri said: “There is no US military or air base in Pakistan, nor was any such proposal envisaged. Any speculation on this account is baseless and irresponsible and should be avoided.”

Meanwhile The 241st Corps Commanders’ Conference was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) , Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa chaired the meeting.

The commanders undertook a comprehensive review of the global, regional and domestic security environment with particular focus on the situation along the borders especially the Line of Control/Working Boundary and Pak-Afghan border, the ISPR statement said. While reviewing recent developments in the Afghan peace process and its attendant effects on the security situation, especially along the Pak-Afghan border, the forum reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for regional peace and stability.

Afghan Journalist Sami Yousufzai who is monitoring the situation, said Islamabad gave priority to its national interest and they take decision accordingly.

Now the US wanted to give important role to Pakistan as it is withdrawing from Afghanistan. US conveyed to Pakistan to bring Taliban to the right direction or cooperate with Afghan government.

Pakistani Journalist Tahir Khan said that Pakistan’s foreign ministry rejected speculations about US military presence and its bases in Pakistan, adding that US Defence officials clearly told congress that Pakistan allowed them air and ground access.

He said the fact that a top US official made this revelation there will be something going-on.

Khan said if Pakistan allowed US military bases it would be against their strategy because they always claimed that be part of peace initiatives not become part of conflict.

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