TILLERSON SAYS DOESN’T ENJOY DEALING WITH N KOREA, PAK

WASHINGTON: US secretary of state Rex Tillerson has said that dealing with North Korea and Pakistan is part of his job that he doesn’t enjoy. And not just in a manner of speaking.

On Tuesday, Tillerson held a Town-hall style meeting at the state department, during which he did a review of the state of America’s diplomacy, engagements and ties around the world.

Asked if he enjoys his job as the country’s top diplomat Tillerson said, “The actual task at hand of dealing with North Korea? I don’t enjoy that. I mean but I enjoy working with Susan Thornton (the senior state department official dealing with North Korea) on it. Dealing with Pakistan – I don’t enjoy that. But I enjoy dealing with Alice Wells (top state department official for South Asia) and ambassador Hale (US envoy to Pakistan David Hale) on it.”

His lack of joy in working on North Korea and Pakistan was a reflection of the frustration felt in this town, irrespective of the party in power, with two of America’s most intractable diplomatic challenges.

North Korea is one of the three countries the US has declared rogue states (along with Syria and Iran), but Pakistan is a major NON-NATO ally and a recipient of tangible and intangible American largesse.

The Trump administration has put Pakistan on notice, personally by President Donald Trump through multiple speeches, and it has been delivered certain “asks” directly during visits by Tillerson and defence secretary James Mattis.

Pakistan was “still an important and valued partner”, but Tillerson said, “the relationship has drifted, and we’ve got to bring this relationship back to one of common interest.”

So the US is “engaged in very, very frank discussions with Pakistan over the concerns we have about their own stability and their own future and the threat they’re under by allowing terrorist organisations to operate in their territory.”