News Report: Pakistan, Russia Begin 'Friendship 2017' Joint Anti-terror Drill

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani and Russian military commandos have launched joint counterterrorism drills in the mountains and forests of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia.

The two-week-long exercise dubbed as "Friendship 2017" involves more than 200 mostly special forces from both countries who will conduct joint "hostage rescue" and "cordon-and-search" operations, according to the Pakistani military.

"The joint exercise will enhance and further strengthen military ties between the countries and share Pakistan army's experience in war against terrorism," it added.

Meanwhile, a nearly three-week-long joint air force exercises China is hosting with Pakistan are due to conclude this week. A spokesman for the Chinese air force described them as "routine" exercises.

Pakistan's deepening political, economic and defense ties with traditional ally China and its emerging new alliance with Russia come amid Islamabad's increasingly uneasy and strained relations with the United States.

News Report: Mattis Visits South Asia Amid Afghanistan Shakeup

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis

William Gallo

NEW DELHI — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is in South Asia for the first time since the White House unveiled its new strategy for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon chief landed Monday in India’s capital, where he will meet with senior leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mattis is hoping to deepen Washington’s quickly growing defense relationship with New Delhi. One area of cooperation could be Afghanistan, where the U.S. is in a deadlock with the Taliban after 16 years.

President Donald Trump has called on New Delhi to do more in Afghanistan – a call that has upset New Delhi’s longtime rival, Pakistan.

On his flight, Mattis praised India’s “invaluable” historic contributions to Afghanistan, and said its expanded involvement there shouldn’t be seen as a threat.

“Pakistan has come out recently again saying they are fighting the terrorists. I think Pakistan will find nothing out of line with India and the United States’ alignment in the same fight,” Mattis said.

Mattis’ trip threatens to be overshadowed by the tensions on the Korean peninsula, where North Korea has threatened to conduct an atmospheric hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific Ocean.

“This would be a shocking display of irresponsibility toward global health, toward stability, toward non-proliferation,” Mattis said.

President Trump last week threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea – escalating the standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.

News Story: Latest U.S. drone strike in Pakistan may further escalate bilateral tension

by Jamil Bhatti

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The latest U.S. unilateral drone attack in Pakistan would possibly enlarge the gaps between the two countries in their common course of anti-terrorism war, experts and analysts here said , expressing their concerns as the strikes are usually condemned by Pakistan as a violation of its sovereignty.

The latest U.S. strike took place on Friday, killing at least three people who were reportedly the members of Afghan Taliban in Pakistan' northwestern tribal region of Kurram Agency that bordering Afghanistan.

The unilateral U.S. military move came after Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's call for joint efforts against militants in both Pakistan and Afghanistan earlier this week. Abbasi said that any one-sided move will be counter-productive, hurting both countries' efforts for peace and fight against terrorism.

"I fear such unilateral acts will further worsen the Pak-U.S. relations in coming days," said Saeed Chaudhry, director of Islamabad Council for International Affairs, adding that the latest attack is a big blow to Pak-U.S. relations which has already gone low after U.S. President Donald Trump's serious criticism on Pakistan for hiding militants in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: US Drone Strike Kills 3 Suspected Terrorists in Pakistan

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — An American drone attack in a remote northwestern border region of Pakistan has killed at least three suspected militants and injured another, said tribal and local security sources.

U.S. officials rarely acknowledge drone strikes on Pakistani soil, but if it is confirmed, Friday’s attack would be the first since President Donald Trump unveiled his strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia about a month ago.

Sources tell VOA that missiles fired from an unmanned aircraft destroyed a house in sem-iautonomous Kurram tribal district, which borders the Afghan province of Khost.

The house belonged to a local religious cleric, Maulvi Mohib, who was among the slain men. Tribal sources described Mohib as a loyalist of the Haqqani terrorist network, an ally of the Taliban who are fighting U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan.

News Story: Pakistani PM warns U.S. against cutting military assistance

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that U.S. sanctions against Pakistani officials, or further cutting of military assistance will be counter-productive, local media reported Tuesday.

Abbasi said any such move would harm war against militancy, which both countries are fighting for the last 16 years, Urdu newspaper Roznama Express said.

He warned that Washington will not achieve its counter-terrorism aims by starving Pakistan of funds, adding that both countries need to make cooperative efforts to win over militancy in the region.

The PM's remarks came after Washington asked Islamabad to do more against militant group Haqqani Network, which it believes has close ties with Pakistan.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Silk Ties - Will Chinese Military Aid Replace US Support for Pakistan?

After Washington's decision to suspend its 225-million-dollar military aid to Pakistan, Islamabad may turn to China in a bid to resolve the issue, Natalaya Zamarayeva of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences told Sputnik.

Commenting on the US State Department's decision to suspend military aid to Pakistan, a Russian expert told Sputnik in an interview that she didn't rule out the possibility that Pakistan would turn to China in a bid to resolve the issue.

"No doubt, Pakistan will try to develop its military and technical cooperation with China, an issue that will certainly top the agenda of the Beijing talks. As for whether China will be able to replace the US in terms of giving military aid to Pakistan, it is a question [which can be answered] in the future," Natalya Zamarayeva said.

She referred to Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif's current visit to China which she said comes after US President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of supporting terrorists.

She pointed to the ongoing power struggle in Pakistan, saying that the transition period is likely to last until the parliamentary elections in the country, which are slated for in 2018.

News Report: Pakistan Says US Can’t Win War on Terror Without It

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has vowed to stay engaged with the United States to help fight terrorism in neighboring Afghanistan, but said the war “cannot be won by excluding or confronting” Islamabad.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif made the remark Thursday at the end of a three-day conference of Pakistani ambassadors to key world capitals for formulating a comprehensive response to the new U.S. policy on Afghanistan.

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Pakistan when he announced his long-awaited Afghan war policy last month. He accused Islamabad of harboring terrorists linked to the Taliban and Haqqani network, which are undermining U.S.-led efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and staging attacks on American forces.

The charges have strained an already fragile relationship between Islamabad and Washington.

“We want to stay engaged with the United States. There is absolutely no doubt about it ... But this relationship will be driven by the interest of Pakistan. We want to have a relationship based on mutual respect,” Foreign Minister Asif told reporters after the meeting.

News Story: Pakistan to engage with U.S. but wants territorial integrity respected - FM

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the country will stay engaged with the United States but wants its territorial integrity to be respected.

The comments came amid tension following U.S. President Donald Trump's accusations last month that Pakistan is providing "sanctuaries" to terrorist groups, the charges Islamabad had rejected.

Asif, who was briefing reporters on Thursday about the outcome of a three-day envoys' conference in Islamabad, focused on the on-going tense relationship between Pakistan and the United States and other important issues.

"We want to stay engaged with the United States. But unfortunately people in Washington do not have a full comprehension of the facts," the foreign minister said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Pakistan Cautions Against Any US Coercive Action

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan says it seeks to amicably resolve issues with the United States, cautioning “any [coercive] American action” would cause instability in the country.

The remarks by Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan came days after U.S. President Donald Trump singled out Pakistan for harboring terrorist organizations, including the Taliban and Haqqani network, which destabilize Afghanistan and plot attacks on American troops there.

Trump did not outline what actions he might order to pressure Islamabad to move against the alleged terrorist sanctuaries. A range of punitive measures reportedly is being considered, though, such as increasing diplomatic and economic pressure, and intensifying and expanding anti-terrorism drone strikes inside Pakistan.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Islamabad, Defense Minister Khan again rejected that there are any terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan. He said Pakistani security forces already have taken action against all terrorist groups and are in the process of eliminating their “remnants” in the country.

Minister Khan also cited U.S. military assessments that say less then 60 percent of Afghan territory is under the control or influence of the Kabul government.

“That is why we are all gravely concerned about the fact that 40 percent of Afghanistan has perhaps become a safe haven [for terrorists],” he said.

News Report: Cause of Friction - Why Pakistan Has Chosen China Over the US

The cooperation between the US and Pakistan has recently been put to the test as Donald Trump accused Islamabad of supporting terrorists. In response, the Pakistani authorities canceled a planned visit by a representative of the State Department. Sputnik attempts to identify the real reason behind the fall out between the two long-term allies?

On August 21, during a speech at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, US President Donald Trump announced Washington's readiness to change its approach to relations with Islamabad if the Pakistani side continues to support terrorists.

“The next pillar of our new strategy is to change the approach in how to deal with Pakistan. We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe-havens for terrorist organizations,” Trump said.

Such a direct accusation of sponsoring terrorism provoked Islamabad's response, and the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the criticism from US President Donald Trump is disappointing.

News Report: US Announces New Conditions for Military Aid to Pakistan - State Department

The United States introduces new conditions for Pakistan in order to receive the US military assistance, the US State Department said in a statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The United States introduces new conditions that Pakistan should fulfill in order to receive the military assistance worth millions of US dollars, the US State Department said in a statement sent to Pakistani media on Friday.

"The Department notified Congress on August 30 of our intent to obligate $255 million in FY 2016 Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan. At the same time, the Department is placing a pause on spending those funds and on allocating them to any specific FMF sales contracts," the statement, sent to the Dawn media outlet, said.

According to the news outlet, the United States provides Pakistan with hundreds of millions in military aid, however large sums of money are withheld annually within the framework of different conditions.

On August 21, US President Donald Trump unveiled his new strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia during a speech, in which he called on Pakistan to do more to crack down on terrorist safe havens, warning that otherwise the United States would cut its aid to the country. Pakistani authorities have rejected the accusations, stressing that the country had been cooperating with both the United States and Afghanistan to promote peace through political negotiations.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Seeking help with Afghanistan, US holds up $255M to Pakistan

By: Josh Lederman

WASHINGTON — The United States will hold up $255 million in military assistance for Pakistan until it cracks down on extremist groups that threaten neighboring Afghanistan, officials said Thursday, in the first concrete step since President Donald Trump vowed to ramp up pressure on Pakistan.

In his new strategy for the 16-year Afghan war, Trump singled out Pakistan for harboring Taliban leaders and other militants that are battling American troops in Afghanistan. Trump’s tough words about Pakistan, a troubled U.S. security partner, infuriated Islamabad and triggered anti-U.S. protests that Pakistani police have had to use tear gas to disperse.

Although the Trump administration had floated the possibility of curtailing aid, hitting Islamabad with sanctions or severing its status as a major non-NATO ally, it had been unclear until Thursday exactly what types of measures the administration would pursue, or how quickly.

“We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting,” Trump said in his Afghanistan speech. “But that will have to change.”

Trump’s administration had faced a Sept. 30 deadline either to say that it planned to spend the $255 million, or lose it. Ahead of that deadline, the administration told Congress that it will indeed use the money, but is putting a “pause” on spending it or on assigning any funds to specific sales of military equipment to the Pakistanis.

State Department officials said the funds won’t be released until the U.S. sees that Pakistan is more successfully addressing U.S. concerns about safe havens in the country for groups including the Haqqani network, which is allied with the Afghan Taliban and has been blamed for some of Afghanistan’s worst attacks. The officials weren’t authorized to comment by name and requested anonymity.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Pakistani Senate asks gov't to summon U.S. envoy over Trump's policy

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani Senate on Wednesday asked the government to summon the U.S. ambassador to convey concern of the country and the people over U.S. President Donald Trump's regional strategy that shifted blame to Pakistan of the U.S. failure in Afghanistan.

President Trump in his Afghan-South Asia Policy statement this month had warned that his administration can no longer be silent about "Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond."

A statement by the Pakistani Senate, or Upper House of the Parliament, said the House has instructed the foreign minister to present a fact sheet to Washington about Pakistan's contributions and sacrifices in the "war against terror" and the logistical facilities Pakistan has provided on the ground and in the air to the United States and NATO troops.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Pakistan Hardens Stance to Trump’s Afghan Strategy

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan appears to have hardened its stance to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently announced Afghan and South Asia strategy; but, officials dismiss suggestions Islamabad is seeking “confrontation” or a “rupture” in its decades-old relations with Washington.

While announcing his long-awaited policy last week, Trump accused Pakistan of housing “agents of chaos” and “the very terrorists” the U.S. military has been battling in Afghanistan. The policy also attempts to give Pakistan’s archival, India, a major role in security-related regional efforts.

Pakistani leaders responded by saying the U.S. terror charges are an attempt to “scapegoat” their country and accused the American military of failing to defeat the 16-year-old Afghan Taliban insurgency.

Moreover, Pakistan postponed Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells’ visit to Islamabad, scheduled for Monday, “until a mutually convenient time.”

The development came shortly after Islamabad decided against sending Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif to Washington, where he was scheduled to meet with his U.S. counterpart.

News Report: China Affirms Alliance with Pakistan After Trump Says Islamabad Abets Terrorists

China’s top diplomat told his American counterpart that the United States must respect Pakistani sovereignty and security concerns as they pertain to Afghanistan or else endanger “peace and stability,” reports Chinese state media.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had a phone conversation on Wednesday with Yang Jiechi, China's state councilor of overseas foreign affairs. Yang, who outranks the Chinese foreign minister, defended Pakistan after US President Donald Trump claimed that it "often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror" during a Monday speech.

Trump called Pakistan a "valued partner" whose "contributions and sacrifices" against terrorism were to be commended. However, Trump went on to say, "Pakistan has also sheltered the same organizations that try every single day to kill our people. We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars, at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting."

China came to its ally's defense during the Tillerson/Yang call. "We must value Pakistan's important role on the Afghanistan issue, and respect Pakistan's sovereignty and reasonable security concerns," Yang reportedly said.

News Story: Pakistan Feels The Heat Under Trump’s New War Strategy

By Karim Amini

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has warned that Pakistan could lose its status as a privileged military ally if Islamabad does not change its approach towards insurgents enjoying safe havens in the country.

“We are going to be conditioning our support for Pakistan and our relationship with them on them delivering results in this area. We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way, but they must change their approach,” Tillerson said.

This new development takes place a day after US President Donald Trump announced his new war strategy on Afghanistan which includes the deployment of  additional US troops and efforts to force a resurgent Taliban to negotiate a political settlement with the government in Kabul.

Tillerson said that the Trump administration was considering many options on Pakistan including a complete termination of financial aid to Pakistan as a non-NATO ally.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Pakistani PM meets U.S. Central Command chief on security issues

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday expressed concern about the presence of Daesh in Afghanistan during a meeting with visiting U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Joseph L. Votel.

The CENTCOM commander is on a two-day visit to Pakistan. The prime minister said the presence of Daesh could threaten all its neighbours, according to the PM office.

The high level U.S. military delegation is visiting Pakistan at a time when the Trump administration is in the process of finalizing strategy for Afghanistan and the region. The policy was scheduled to be unveiled on Friday, but was postponed.

The prime minister underscored that Pakistan had an important stake in peace and stability in Afghanistan as Pakistan has suffered the most due to conflict in that country, a statement from the PM's office said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

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Story Quote: "The prime minister underscored that Pakistan had an important stake in peace and stability in Afghanistan as Pakistan has suffered the most due to conflict in that country, a statement from the PM's office said." 

Story Quote: ""Pakistan has undertaken operations against terrorists of all hue and colour," Bajwa said"

PacificSentinel: Yawn! They can keep saying that "Pakistan has suffered the most" but you have to remember that THEY created the situation in the first place, so no sympathy is deserved, and so long as they continue to let the Taliban use their territory to attack Afghanistan, none will be given. It's just a pity the Civilians have to pay for the Government & Militaries stupid decisions. 

News Report: Pakistan Dismisses US Assertions Fighting Terrorism 'Selectively'

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has dismissed latest U.S. assertions it is “selectively” fighting terrorist groups or allowing insurgents to use Pakistani soil for plotting attacks against Afghanistan.

U.S. National Security Adviser McMaster told an American news station Saturday that the Trump administration wants regional countries, particularly Pakistan to stop providing “safe haven and support bases” to the Taliban and Haqqani Network.

"Pakistan has taken action against all the terrorist elements without discrimination. We have never allowed nor will anybody ever be allowed to use Pakistan's soil against any other country,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria told VOA when asked for his comments on McMaster’s assertions.

The spokesman went on to say that Pakistan and the United States have been cooperating in counterterrorism such issues came under discussion when the acting American envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan visited Islamabad last week.

News Report: Tightening Military Aid to Pakistan Isn’t Enough - Analysts

Nazrana Ghaffar

WASHINGTON — The White House’s recent decision to withhold $50 million in military aid to Pakistan for failing to do enough against the Haqqani network has triggered new debate in Pakistan over the country’s war against terrorism and its military’s dependence in recent years on U.S. aid.

Since the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan’s military has received $30 billion in military assistance for helping crack down on groups that target international forces in Afghanistan. But U.S. officials have long complained that Islamabad has fallen short in its fight against the Haqqani network, a U.S.-designated terrorist group that many suspect has links to Pakistan’s spy agency. Some analysts say that withholding funds to pressure Islamabad is not effective.

“I think this is not something new. U.S. administrations have been using aid and coalition support funds’ disbursement as leverage against Pakistan for many years now. If this policy did not bring any results in the past, don’t expect any different results this time,” said Jahangir Khattak, a New York-based journalist.

“Despite military aid cuts, Pakistan’s military establishments will not take sincere action against Haqqani network, the one (in which) Pakistan has invested hugely for many years. Although, Pakistan is concerned about Trump’s administration possible unilateral actions, such as stepping up drone attacks and special force operations, as it did on Osama bin Laden,” said Hashim Wahdatyar, an Afghan political expert who is based in Washington, D.C.

News Report: Pakistan Defiant as US Ponders South Asia Strategy

Natalie Liu

Days after the Pentagon announced it is withholding $50 million intended for Pakistan as part of its Coalition Support Fund, the South Asian country's ambassador hinted at potential retaliation, possibly coaxing Washington to negotiate access to the country's air corridors, which Islamabad suggests have been taken for granted.

Pakistan is ready to cooperate with the United States, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said, though Washington may now end up having to negotiate with Islamabad on the corridors and other tangible assets, he added.

"All that Pakistan has done in the fight against terrorism has not been sufficiently factored" into the U.S. decision to reduce its support funds, Chaudhry lamented during a discussion this week at the Washington office of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.