Washington: US Defence Secretary nominee Mark Esper has said Pakistan had taken initial and promising steps agai-nst anti-Indian groups, adding that he would use all possible tools to promote a change in Islam-abad’s strategic approach to the region.
Esper said the president’s South Asia Str-ategy recognises Pakistan as a key partner in advancing US interests in the region, including developing a political settlement in Afghanistan, defeating the Al-Qaeda and the IS, providing logistical access and enhancing regional stability.
“We have seen Pakistan take some constructive steps on Afghan reconciliation. Pakistan has also taken initial, promising steps against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-e-Tayyabba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which threaten regional stability,” Esper told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
“It is difficult to assess whether the security assistance suspension itself has driven these constructive actions, or whether progress on Afghan reconciliation and the escalation following the Pulwama terrorist attack have also influenced Pakistan’s calculations,” Esper noted in a written response to questions submitted ahead of his confirmation hearing.
Esper said he will advocate for the Department of Defence to maintain the right set of tools and authorities to maintain decision space and flexibility in America’s policy approach, in order to maintain a “bridge back” for Pakistan.
“If confirmed, I would aim to make use of all of the tools at our disposal to promote a change in Pakistan’s strategic approach to the region,” he said.
Assistance and operational reimbursements like Coalition Support Funds (CSF) and Intern-ational Military Education and Training (IMET), which are currently suspended, may be useful to reinforce positive actions Pakistan takes in response to US requests related to terrorism, militant sanctuaries and nuclear programs.
“However, the 2018 suspension of security assistance remains in place,” he said. “My objective would be to maintain decision space and preserve the defence relationship, including select military-to-military exchanges, between the United States and Pakistan, even as we urge Pakistan to take action on American requests.”
Noting that the threat of terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies emanating from Afghanistan remains its primary challenge, he said the country had made great improvements in their capabilities.
