US will look at Pak role in last 20 yrs: Blinken to lawmakers
Secretary of state Antony Blinken tells US lawmakers that Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan over last 20 years is being critically looked into
WASHINGTON : The United States is reviewing its relationship with Pakistan, which is a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), in view of its role in Afghanistan over the last 20 years and more, which, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told lawmakers at a hearing Monday, amounted to “hedging it bets”.
Blinken testified Monday on the pullout of American troops from Afghanistan at a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Replying to a question on Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, Blinken said: “...this is one of the things that we’re going to be looking at in the days and weeks ahead: the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years but also the role that we would want to see it play in the coming years, and what it will take for it to do that.”
WASHINGTON/KABUL: The US is reviewing its relationship with Pakistan, which is a major nonNato ally (MNNA), in view of its role in Afghanistan over the last 20 years and more, which, secretary of state Antony Blinken told lawmakers at a hearing on Monday, amounted to “hedging its bets”.
Blinken also delivered a clear message to Pakistan, telling it to “line up” with the broad majority of nations to force the Taliban regime to uphold the basic rights of Afghan people, including women and children; allow humanitarian assistance; and form a representative government.
Blinken testified on Monday on the pull-out of US troops from Afghanistan at a hearing of the House foreign affairs committee. The nearly five-hour session was marked by testy exchanges with Republican lawmakers and an occasional rap-on-the-knuckles from Democrats.
House lawmakers grilled Blinken on a range of issues relating to the withdrawal of troops. He was to speak before the Senate foreign relations committee on Tuesday.
Two Democratic lawmakers, Bill Keating and Joaquin Castro, brought up the role of Pakistan. Calling Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan “duplicitous”, Keating asked if the Biden administration was reviewing the relationship with Pakistan, especially its status as one of only 17 countries that the United States has designated as MNNAs.
“Given its long-term support for the Taliban, is it time for the United States to reassess its relationship with Pakistan and reassess its status as a major non
Nato ally?” asked Castro, who was following up a line of questioning on Pakistan opened by fellow Democrat Keating.
Blinken replied, “For the reasons you’ve cited as well as others, this is one of the things that we’re going to be looking at in the days and weeks ahead - the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years but also the role that we would want to see it play in the coming years, and what it will take for it to do that.”
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