Washington: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the US with a long list of complaints against India, hoping to hit it off with the West and involving Washington in the Kashmir issue. He however, had to return home a disappointed man. His meeting with American President Barack Obama was reportedly one sided where Obama did most of the talking and Sharif ended up assuring him that Islamabad would take effective action against Pakistan based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, and its affiliates responsible for the Nov 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Obama also cautioned him against raising nuclear tensions with new weapons.
A joint statement read, “Regarding Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, the President stressed the importance of avoiding any developments that might invite increased risk to nuclear safety, security, or strategic stability.” However, Sharif did manage to get a call from an India-Pakistan dialogue to resolve all issues, including Kashmir. But in accord with Washington's hands off Kashmir policy, the joint statement expressing “concern over violence along the Line of Control” noted “their support for confidence-building measures and effective mechanisms that are acceptable to both parties.”
“The leaders emphasised the importance of a sustained and resilient dialogue process between the two neighbours aimed at resolving all outstanding territorial and other disputes, including Kashmir, through peaceful means and working together to address mutual concerns of India and Pakistan regarding terrorism,” it said. “In this context, the Prime Minister apprised the President about Pakistan's resolve to take effective action against United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar-e-Taeba (LeT) and its affiliates, as per its international commitments and obligations under UN Security Council resolutions and the Financial Action Task Force,” the statement added.
Obama's spokesperson Eric Schultz said, “Pakistan has embarked on significant military operations that have had a significant impact. They've targeted terrorist sanctuaries and restored government-controlled parts of Pakistan that had previously been safe havens to terrorists for years. So we understand that the people of Pakistan have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists and violent extremists, and we welcome Pakistan's commitment as part of its national action plan to not discriminate amongst terrorist groups.”
Regarding India-Pakistans' relations, he said, “I think it's clear that Pakistan's relationship with India is critical to Pakistan's future.” “The normalisation of relations between those two countries is vital both to them and to the stability in the region,” he said stressing “economic linkages and a broader view of the US-Pakistan relationship beyond just counter-terrorism.”
"And I think it's discussions like the one the President had today that helps unlock opportunities for millions of people and leads to a more prosperous region, which no doubt will go a long way towards counterterrorism efforts," Schultz said.
Senior officials from Obama administration have revealed that the US is preparing to sell eight new F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, an overture that intends to bolster a tenuous partnership despite persistent concerns about Islamabads' ties to the Taliban. The decision came ahead of President Obama's meeting with Sharif.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his visit of the US of A, was heckled by a protester who demanded to free the restive Balochistan province where activists reveal the army is engaged in abductions, torture and killings. While addressing the US Institute of Peace, a protester raised slogans shouting “Free Balochistan” and called Sharif, a “friend of Bin Laden.”
