In what is being seen as a diplomatic victory for India, the United States outright rejected Pakistan’s claim that “New Delhi is sponsoring terrorism from Afghanistan into Pakistan.” In a telephonic talk with Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in no uncertain terms described these allegations against India as rubbish. Pompeo told his Pakistani counterpart that India’s cooperation in Afghanistan is appreciable and much needed.
This development has come just a day after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in telephonic conversation told Pompeo that India would continue to cooperate with the US in bringing peace, development and normalcy in Afghanistan. This did not, however, go well with Pakistan whose powerful military does not want New Delhi’s presence in Afghanistan in any manner.
So, Pakistani Army cooked up story of India being allegedly involved in terrorism in Afghanistan and for that matter in Pakistan. The Daily Guardian had reported two days ago how Jaishankar in a phone call with Pompeo sent out a message to Pakistan about India wanting to make its presence felt in Afghanistan in much bigger way. And, Jaishankar managed to drive home the message. It upset PM Imran Khan and Pakistan Army which dominates all the decision-making system in the country related to every sensitive issue including Afghanistan.
As a result, Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi tried to spoil India’s plan to be in deeper strategic cooperation with US either in Afghanistan or on any other military front like the South China Sea. Qureshi even said that Pakistan has evidence to corroborate his claim against India. But Pompeo didn’t buy what he said, and asked Pakistan to focus more on what needs to be done for restoring normalcy and peace in Afghanistan.
According to sources, Pompeo said that Pakistan’s action to eradicate terrorism is not satisfactory. It needs to do more on that front, say sources. Diplomatic sources believe that feeling embarrassed after not being able to rake up Kashmir in UN Security Council, Pakistan is desperately levelling baseless allegations India.
MEA officials are also of the view that Pakistan is worried about US seeking to enhance military ties with India against China, and, therefore, it is resorting to one ploy or the other to alter the opinion of Washington about India. “The US has cast suspicion on Pakistan’s claim, and Washington still believes that insurgents operate freely in Pakistan,” says a diplomat in South Block. This diplomat is privy to developments in Pakistan and US.
A US State Department spokesperson also stated, “We continue to urge Pakistan to take sustained and irreversible action to dismantle militant groups based in Pakistan that are threat to the region and world.” As a result of Jaishankar’s diplomatic offensive, Pakistan not only embarrassed but also disappointed after its attempt to tarnish India’s image failed. Pakistan permanent representative to the UN Munir Akram said, “He hoped the US will play an objective role, that its position will not continue to be tainted by its desire for a military alliance with India.”