Mattis in Pakistan for talks on US military strategy in Afghanistan

US Defense Secretary James Mattis is on a visit to Pakistan for talks on Washington’s new military strategy in Afghanistan amid friction between the two sides over what the White House calls Islamabad’s support for militant groups.

Visiting Pakistan for the first time as the US defense chief, Mattis arrived at the Nur Khan Airbase in Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad on Monday.

Mattis is scheduled to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa for talks on regional developments, bilateral issues and the war in Afghanistan.

Prior to his arrival, Mattis said his trip was aimed at finding “common ground” with Pakistan in the fight against the Taliban-linked militants, which the US says use Pakistani soil to launch attacks in Afghanistan.

Officials in Islamabad have strongly rejected the allegations. They say Pakistan has made great effort to fight terrorism.

Asked on whether he was going to press the Pakistani leaders to take more action against the militants, Mattis replied, “I believe that we work hard on finding the common ground and then we work together” on the counterterrorism fight.

Mattis added that during his visit he wanted to make sure Pakistan’s leaders “do not support terrorism” and remained committed to “partnerships.”

“We have heard from Pakistani leaders that they do not support terrorism ... we expect them to act in their own best interest, and in support of peace and regional stability,” he told reporters traveling with him this week.

In a clear U-turn from his campaign pledges to end the now 16-year occupation of Afghanistan, Trump said in August that he would continue the military intervention “as long as we see determination and progress” in the South Asian country.

The Trump administration is also planning to deploy roughly 3,000 more troops to Afghanistan, where the US already has about 8,400 troops alongside another 5,000 from NATO forces.

While outlining the Afghanistan policy, Trump criticized Pakistan in tough words over its alleged support for pro-Taliban militants.

Senior US officials have been pressuring Pakistan to back Washington’s new policy in Afghanistan.

Washington has said it would hold up $255 million in military assistance for Pakistan until it cracks down on the militants.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo has also warned Pakistan that if it does not eliminate the alleged safe havens inside its territory, the United States will do “everything” it can to destroy them.

Trump’s new Afghanistan policy comes as Washington’s so-called war on terror has done little to end Taliban militancy in the country.

Taking advantage of the chaotic situation in Afghanistan, the Daesh terror group has also established a foothold in the country, further complicating Kabul’s efforts to restore stability to the nation.

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