Amid threats and reduced US aid, US Defence Secretary Mattis arrives in Islamabad

Amid threats of action and huge decline in US financial and military aid to Pakistan, United States (US) Defence Secretary James Mattis arrived in Islamabad on Monday for his first visit to the country since taking over the charge of the Pentagon.

Secretary Mattis landed at an air force base in Rawalpindi and headed straight to the US Embassy. Upon his arrival, he was received by officials from the Defence Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the US Embassy.
During his visit, Mattis is expected to hold meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff Qamar Jawed Bajwa.
On Saturday, Secretary Mattis had told reporters that during his time in Islamabad he would look for “common ground” between America and Pakistan.
Asked if he was going to press the government to take more action against militants, Mattis said: “That’s not the way I deal with issues. I believe that we work hard on finding the common ground and then we work together.”
Mattis had also said that his discussion with leadership in Islamabad will focus on US President Donald Trump’s South Asia policy which was announced in August.
The strategy seeks Pakistan’s support to defeat the Taliban on the battlefield as Washington believes that only a defeat will force them to reconcile with the Afghan government.
Soon after the announcement, Pakistan had expressed its reservations to some of the policy decisions made in the strategy and totally rejected the misperception of not taking action against all terrorist groups.
“The US remains committed to a pragmatic relationship that expands cooperation on shared interests,” the US secretary had said on Saturday while reinforcing President Trump’s call for action against alleged safe havens.