Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Pakistan on Monday, where he is to discuss a possible agreement in fighting terrorism with Pakistani leaders. He is to ask them to take more aggressive action in reining militants accused of using the country as safe haven from where they can attack Afghanistan, Reuters reports.
Mattis said that the U.S. is willing to cooperate with Pakistan and is committed to a pragmatic relationship, but also reinforced ‘’President Trump’s call for action against terrorist safe havens.’’
‘’We have heard from Pakistan leaders that they do not support terrorism. So I expect to see that sort of action reflected in their policies,’’ he told reporters.
Mattis also pointed out that he would not press the Pakistani leaders to take more action against insurgents, but would rather try to find a common ground and work together with them. However, U.S. officials say that over three months after President Donald Trump’s South Asia strategy was announced, little success has been achieved. They add that it is unclear how progress will be made.
Experts also point out that the Trump administration hasn’t done much to advance the president’s strategy, announced in August.
Mattis’s visit comes amid frustration over perceived Pakistani reluctance to act against insurgent groups, such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network. In the meeting with Mattis, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the two sides had a common objective.
“We’re committed (to) the war against terror. Nobody wants peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan,” he said.
Senior U.S. officials, however, say Pakistan has not changed its support for militants, even after numerous earlier visits by U.S. officials, including one by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
“We have been very direct and very clear with the Pakistanis … we have not seen those changes implemented yet,” General John Nicholson said.
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