United States once again insists Pakistan to do more against Taliban, other militants
US Vice President Mike Pence told
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that Pakistan "must do more"
against the Taliban and other militants, the White House said.
"Vice President Pence reiterated President (Donald) Trump's request
that the Government of Pakistan must do more to address the continued presence
of the Taliban, Haqqani Network, and other terrorist groups operating in their
country," the GEO TV reported the White House as saying in a statement on
the Friday call.
“Pakistan could and should work
closer with the United States,” Pence said.
Earlier this month, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani
offered recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political group. He said it as part of a proposed political process that could lead to talks aimed
at ending more than 16 years of war.
The offer, made at the start of
an international conference aimed at creating a platform for peace talks, adds
to a series of signals from both the Western-backed government and the Taliban
suggesting a greater willingness to consider dialogue.
US Defence Secretary James Mattis
met the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah
Abdullah a couple of days back. He assured Afghanistan of full support of the US to reconciliation process
but the peace offer should not halt the need for aggressive offences on
Taliban.
Prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in his private visit to the United States has met some of the US officials. The Pakistan embassy in the US shared a tweet in which it was stated that House Foreign Affairs sub-committee on Asia and Pacific Chairman Yoho and ranking member Brad Sherman called on Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
Congressman Ted Yoho ( R-FL) , Chairman House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia & Pacific along with Subcommittee’s Ranking Member Brad Sherman (D-CA) called on the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during his private visit to the United States. pic.twitter.com/6kxxLjakU9— Pakistan Embassy, DC (@PakEmbassyDC) March 16, 2018
Brad Sherman in his tweet mentioned the prime minister's visit as private and said that the dicussion with him was good.
As the Ranking Member of the Asia Subcommittee, I had the opportunity to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who is here on an unofficial trip. We had a good discussion on all the issues concerning the U.S.-Pakistan relationship. pic.twitter.com/ITcnKjbgao— Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) March 16, 2018
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