Pakistan can have strong economic benefits from India if it realises that the “tide has shifted” and stop providing safe havens to terrorists on its soil, US defence secretary Jim Mattis has said.
Mr Mattis told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that the Trump administration is being very clear and firm in what it expects from Pakistan and is using all aspects of the government to bring about the change, working internationally.
His statement comes weeks after President Donald Trump announced his Afghanistan and south Asia policy in which he adopted a tough policy against Pakistan. It also came ahead of Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif’s talks with secretary of state Rex Tillerson and other top officials of the Trump administration.
“There are a number of lines of effort being put together now in secretary of treasury’s office, secretary of state’s office, my own office, the intel agencies. We are also working with secretary general Stoltenberg to ensure that Nato’s equities are brought to bear,” Mr Mattis said responding to a question on why would Pakistan change its mind on terrorist safe havens this time.
Certainly, India has a role to play as a neighbour, and potentially a very strong economic benefit to Pakistan, if Pakistan can find a way to carry out its international responsibilities and end any kind of safe haven inside their country, he noted.
“There’s a great deal that Pakistan can benefit economically, diplomatically, financially for its government; economically for its people; by finally sensing that the tide has shifted against this,” the Pentagon chief said.
He said that the Trump administration believes it would be highly difficult to sustain any stabilisation in south Asia, not just in Afghanistan, but certainly anywhere around Pakistan and India unless safe havens are removed.
