US asks for Pakistan’s help in brining Taliban to negotiating table

Just days after publically slamming Pakistan’s efforts in War against Terror and asking it to do more, the US has once again asked for the country’s help in talks with the Taliban.

According to the latest details provided, a top US commander, who is overseeing the campaign in Afghanistan, reached out to the Pakistani military leadership in order to ask for their help.

Sources have revealed that a telephone call was made by General Joseph Votel, who is the Centcom chief, to the Pakistan army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa in the last few days. During the call, Votel delivered a message to the general as to what exactly the Trump administration wanted from Pakistan in order to help end the 16-year long war in Afghanistan.

The details of the call have not been revealed but it is said that the US now wants Pakistan’s help in talking with the Haqqani network and bringing them to the negotiating table.

Publically, Washington has asked Pakistan to take decisive action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network. This message was delivered through Trump’s tweet and the same message was also reiterated by Trump’s key aide during her recent visit to Pakistan.

However, privately it seems, that the US wants Pakistan to bring the Taliban to talk to them.

The official, who requested not to be quoted since he was not authorised to speak on the subject, insisted that the US had not made any specific demands following the Trump’s tweet.

“The only demand or request they have been making is to help them restart the reconciliation process,” added the official, who would not say if Pakistan had agreed to the US request.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=55936

Posted by fatimaarshad on Jan 19 2018. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.