The
State Department on Wednesday said the United States remains committed
to its “vital” partnership with Pakistan, as senior officials of the
two countries had high-level meetings amid strains in the relationship,
considered key to outcome of the Afghan conflict. “We value our
partnership with Pakistan. It’s not always easy but it’s certainly
vital, and it’s in both our shared interests. We’re strongly committed
to it,” Mark Toner, State Department Deputy Spokesman, said in the wake
of weekend confirmation by the White House that military aid for
Pakistan amounting to $ 800 million is being delayed.
The State Department comments came as Islamabad’s top intelligence
official, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Director General of ISI, headed for
Washington to hold talks with senior American officials.
According to U.S. embassy in Islamabad, Gen. Mattis met with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Chief of the Pakistani Army, and General Wynne, Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
In his remarks, the State Department spokesman stressed “it’s important to note, with all the talk about military and security assistance, our civilian assistance does continue without any restrictions.”
The U.S. officials here say they expect stepped up counterterror cooperation from Pakistan. Islamabad, for its part, has expressed concern at the aid pause, inidicating such a step could affect the anti-terror efforts.
Islamabad also wants the U.S. to address its security concerns in the region.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani indicated earlier this week that it is the pace of steps - with regard to counterterrorism campaign- where the two sides have differences as both want to proceed in accordance with their respective situations.
At the State Department briefing, Toner had nothing specific to say if the head of ISI, was to meet the State Department officials but indicated there have been regular contacts between other Pakistani and American officials.
“There is always contact between us and Pakistani authorities on a regular daily basis. I can imagine since the story (on aid delay) broke out over the weekened they have talked about it.” APP
