——– Envoy to US proposes Washington should make Islamabad partner for diplomatic comeback in Kabul
——– Asserts Pakistan, US should invest in “reset” of relationship
——– Says some issues shouldn’t hold entire relationship hostage
——– Invites US investors to tap Pakistan’s potential
From Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, has emphasised the need for small arms and modern equipment to ensure the success of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.
Speaking at the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute in Washington, DC, Khan stated, “Pakistan has launched Azm-e-Istehkam to oppose and dismantle terrorist networks. For that, we need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment.”
The ambassador highlighted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured the public the operation would not displace local populations, as it is not a large-scale military action.
Khan called for a reset in US-Pakistan relations, urging both nations to maintain strong security links, enhance intelligence cooperation, and resume sales of advanced military platforms.
“This is crucial for regional security and opposing the rising tide of terrorism that also threatens the interests of the US and its allies,” he added.
The ambassador stressed that bilateral ties should be grounded in reality, noting, “One or two issues should not hold the entire relationship hostage.”
He proposed that the US consider Pakistan as a partner for a diplomatic comeback in Kabul, collaborating on counterterrorism and women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan. He underscored the importance of security cooperation, describing it as a trust-building measure.
Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that terrorist sanctuaries of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) across the border could be targeted as part of the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign, stressing that targeting those redoubts would not be any violation of the international law.
In an interview with the American news agency, the minister stated that the decision to launch Azm-e-Istehkam was not taken in haste, rather it was necessary in the wake of the economic issues facing the country. He repeated that the government was ready to brief the opposition parties on its contours.
