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In a major setback to Pakistan, the United States has seemingly forced its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who met President Obama on Thursday, to commit to taking effective action against all Pakistan-based terror outfits, including Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) responsible for 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and made it clear that it (US) won’t mediate on Kashmir, saying this is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
Besides, despite all the incessant media reports about a possible India-type civil nuclear deal for Pakistan, the United States has ruled out any package of the kind and instead advised Islamabad to be mindful of risks to nuclear safety and security. It has also denied any plan to sell new F-16s to Islamabad.
Islamabad’s bid to up the ante by submitting to the US three “dossiers” on alleged Indian involvement in subversive activities inside Pakistan also appears to have misfired, with the US side mooting the same prescription: Dialogue with India.
A joint statement issued after the Obama-Sharif meeting spoke of “Pakistan’s resolve to take effective action against United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar-e-Tayyeba and its affiliates, as per its international commitments and obligations under UN Security Council resolutions and the Financial Action Task Force”.
With Sharif’s commitment, LeT founder and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed is once again in the spotlight. New Delhi has been pressing Islamabad to take action against Saeed who has been spewing venom against India and the US.
Obama, for his part, assured Sharif that “the United States is committed to a broad, sustainable, and enduring partnership with Pakistan that delivers progress for the Pakistani people and reinforces Pakistan’s democracy and civil society”. An augmented joint action plan on trade and investment, a new partnership to advance girls’ education and a clean energy partnership were announced in the wake of the summit meeting.
On the nuclear front, Obama advised caution on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme. “The President stressed the importance of avoiding any developments that might invite increased risk to nuclear safety, security, or strategic stability. The leaders pledged to continue their strong cooperation on nuclear security, including at the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit,” said White House readout after the meeting.
A senior administration official, speaking to the Indian media, trashed recent reports in the American media about an India-type civil nuclear deal being negotiated with Pakistan.
Terming the reports “completely false”, the official said neither the US is negotiating a 123 agreement with Pakistan, nor is it seeking an exception for Islamabad at the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The two sides, however, have been holding talks on nuclear safety and security issues.
On Kashmir and the joint statement’s call for a “sustained” Indo-Pak dialogue, the US official said it was really for New Delhi and Islamabad to work out the parameters for such a dialogue. He commented it was not for the US to try to influence, set terms or even make recommendations on how the dialogue should take place. “This has been the policy of the US Government for many years and it has not changed one bit,” said the official, speaking on background. He, however, expressed the hope that India and Pakistan do have a dialogue to normalise relations and work together for peace and prosperity of the region.
Asked about the three dossiers handed by Pakistan to Secretary of State John Kerry, the official said that Prime Minister Sharif did share “written material” on certain Pakistani concerns, but stressed: “We’ve said for quite some time, and Kerry underscored it yesterday, that the best way to resolve issues is through dialogue between the two neighbours. We stand ready to support such dialogue in any way we can. As for the dossiers, we have not been able to review them and I have no comment on the contents.”
Responding to Sharif’s claim of an agreement over a mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, the official informed that while Pakistan has often requested for American engagement on this score, Obama reaffirmed that the US would be willing only if both India and Pakistan wanted it.
Questioned on the reported US plan to sale of eight new F-16s to Pakistan in a bid to bolster relations, the official denied The New York Times account, commenting: “I can confirm that we’ve not notified (US) Congress of any new sale.”
Welcoming Sharif’s commitment to take effective action against LeT, the official called it a significant development, noting: “I think it demonstrates recognition by Pakistan of the threats that these terrorist groups pose to Pakistan and to other countries in the region.”
http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/us-forces-pak-hand-on-2611-butcher.html
