Trump’s message to Pak clear, says UK

LONDON: US President Donald Trump’s new strategy on Afghanistan and South Asia has sent a “loud and clear” message to Pakistan to put its house in order, Britain said on Thursday, adding that the role for India envisaged was “not entirely clear”.

Foreign Office minister for India and Asia, Mark Field, who recently returned from a visit to India, said London’s position was that substantial issues of security between Pakistan and Afghanistan should be dealt with on a bilateral basis.

“We obviously have a relationship and collaboration with the US. It is not entirely clear what the role for India is, may or may not be…I would warn you not to over-interpret what is involved in the new South Asia policy of the Trump administration”, he said.

“Although it is pretty clear that for the first time since September 11, 2001, there was a stronger condition from the US point of view that they were looking for Pakistan to put their house in order”.

“I think that was loud and clear and that message went through to Pakistani politicians and military in the conversations that have taken place”, added Field.

On shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry last week calling on New Delhi to allow international human rights monitors into Jammu and Kashmir, he said Labour’s position on the troubletorn state was “expedient”, and one driven by its voters with origin in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir or Pakistan.