tillerson heads to pakistan as us warns over taliban havens
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Tillerson heads to Pakistan as US warns over Taliban havens

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Tillerson heads to Pakistan as US warns over Taliban havens

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit Pakistan.
Washington - Arab Today

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson landed in Islamabad Tuesday as Washington turns up the heat on Pakistan for allegedy providing "safe havens" for Taliban militants.

Tillerson's visit, his first to Pakistan since becoming secretary of state, comes months after US President Donald Trump angrily accused the nuclear-armed country of harbouring "agents of chaos" who can attack NATO-led forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.

It follows on the heels of an unannounced stop in Afghanistan, where the US top diplomat reiterated America's commitment to the country and warned Washington has made "very specific requests" of Pakistan seeking to "undermine the support that the Taliban receives".

Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting militant groups including the Taliban, believed to have links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment who aim to use them as a regional bulwark against arch-nemesis India.

Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge, insisting it maintains contacts only with the militants as it seeks to bring them to the table for peace talks.

During his brief trip to Bagram air base Monday, Tillerson told reporters Pakistan needs to "take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside" the country.

His visit to Islamabad, where he is meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the powerful military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, marks the first by a member of the administration.

US and Pakistani sources say he will be followed later in the year by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis as Trump seeks to send a tough message to the wayward ally.

The US-Pakistan relationship has waxed and waned dramatically since Trump took office in January.

Pakistan said the President had praised its then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif as "terrific" in an effusive phone call when Trump took office in January.

But Trump's blistering speech in August accusing Pakistan of harbouring militants saw Islamabad angrily hit back at the claims, insisting they discount the thousands of lives lost and billions spent in fighting extremism.

Following the speech, Tillerson cautioned Pakistan that it could lose its status as a privileged military ally if it continued providing support to Afghan militant groups.

As one of 16 "Non-NATO Major Allies", Pakistan benefits from billions of dollars in aid and has access to advanced US military technology banned from other countries.

Earlier this month Pakistani forces acting on American intelligence rescued a US-Canadian family that had been in Taliban captivity for five years, sparking hopes that ties were on the mend.

The rescue was followed by a series of drone strikes on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border targeting long-time foes to both Washington and Islamabad.

The US has vowed to send more than 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, on top of the 11,000 already deployed there, to train and advise Afghan security forces as part of a new strategy outlined by the administration.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

tillerson heads to pakistan as us warns over taliban havens tillerson heads to pakistan as us warns over taliban havens

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

tillerson heads to pakistan as us warns over taliban havens tillerson heads to pakistan as us warns over taliban havens

 



GMT 09:54 2017 Monday ,13 November

Hany Ramzy prepares for new film

GMT 02:13 2017 Thursday ,31 August

RI tourism ready to compete in ASEAN community

GMT 11:38 2017 Tuesday ,14 November

Arab media development is lost in translation

GMT 07:56 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

Fatah’s leader rebukes Trump’s decision

GMT 11:26 2017 Wednesday ,26 April

Settlers uproot 300 olive trees, Ramallah

GMT 05:34 2017 Sunday ,22 October

Hamilton overshadows Vettel in final practice

GMT 16:49 2017 Tuesday ,28 March

Settlements undermine 2-state solution

GMT 05:10 2017 Monday ,02 October

A380 superjumbo makes emergency landing in Canada

GMT 07:27 2017 Sunday ,12 November

Oman receives OMR8b foreign direct investment

GMT 17:09 2017 Saturday ,05 August

Justin tells fans of "insecurities" after cancelling

GMT 02:14 2017 Sunday ,22 October

January21st-February19th
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday