Pakistan continues sub rosa diplomacy with US administration

The Foreign Office said Pakistan’s behind-the-scenes diplomacy with the United States was continuing and the onus of repairing ties lay with Washington, whose unilateral actions had damaged the relationship.

“Pakistan and the US are trying to find common ground in their bilateral relations, which is happening outside public glare. So far, we have not failed,” FO spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said at his weekly media briefing.
The secret dialogue between the two countries had commenced soon after the US suspended military assistance following President Donald Trump’s New Year tweet, accusing Pakistan of lies and deceit. The dialogue began between Pentagon and the GHQ and is believed to be continuing at the same level and between the same principals — Centcom Commander Gen Joseph Votel and Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa.
Lately, the military’s top brass had at the corps commanders’ conference signalled its desire for cooperation with the US.
Tensions between Islamabad and Washington had intensified after the announcement of the Trump administration’s strategy for South Asia and Afghanistan, which was very critical of Pakistan for its alleged inaction against terror sanctuaries used for sustaining the insurgency in Afghanistan.
“Several unilateral actions by the US in recent months have impacted the relationship and it is for the US to rebuild the trust. We have categorically conveyed to the US that this relationship can move forward only in an environment of mutual trust and respect,” the FO spokesperson underlined.
The US government’s move to get Pakistan grey listed with counter-illicit financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force has complicated the situation further.
“Once things get clearer, we will be able to comment on Pak-US relations in this context,” Dr Faisal said.