In a grim message to Pakistan, the Trump administration has made it clear that if Islamabad can’t or won’t take decisive action to root out the terrorist safe havens on its territory, the United States will “adjust” its plans and deal with the situation on its own.
The message was delivered by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his trip to Islamabad earlier this week as part of his first South Asia visit that also took him to New Delhi and Kabul.
Asked about his conversations with the Pakistani leaders, Tillerson told reporters on his way back in Geneva, “We have some very legitimate asks, some very legitimate concerns that we need their help addressing. I said to them, “You can do it or you can decide not to do it. And if you decide you don’t want to do it, just let us know. We’ll adjust our plans accordingly and we’ll deal with it ourselves”.”
He, however, clarified that it was not a threat message, saying, “It’s just a matter of fact. We have to deal with the conditions on the ground. As you know, the entire South Asia strategy is a conditions-based strategy.”
“And so the same message to Pakistan was: Here’s what we need for Pakistan to do. We’re asking you to do this; we’re not demanding anything. You’re a sovereign country. You’ll decide what you want to do, but understand this is what we think is necessary. And if you don’t want to do that, don’t feel you can do it, we’ll adjust our tactics and our strategies to achieve the same objective a different way,” he said.
Tillerson, according to a transcript of the media interaction released by the State Department here, termed it a “very open, candid and free exchange” with the Pakistani leadership, adding: “We put our points forward. We put our expectations forward in no uncertain terms.”
When a reporter quizzed if it would be accurate to say that Pakistanis resented his “lecturing” and delivered their own “message of defiance in the face of the US trying to pressure them”, Tillerson commented: “That would be a complete mischaracterisation of the meeting.”
“There’s nothing to be achieved by lecturing, but we should be very clear about expectations and what we’re asking. And either people will step up and meet those expectations or they won’t.
We’re going to chart our course consistent with what Pakistan not just says they do but what they actually do,” he said, adding: “I view it as a respectful relationship.”
“Our goal is to work with our regional partners to root out terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan and Pakistan so that South Asia can enter a period of peace and prosperity,” he said.
Tillerson, who had a joint meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and his team and a separate meeting with Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa and his close advisers, termed Pakistan “a key partner for the stability of the region”.
“We have a long history of positive partnership with Pakistan, but Pakistan must do more to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within its country,” he said, adding the people of Pakistan have much to gain from a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, and a region that denies safe haven to terrorists.
Asked if he presented the Pakistani leadership with a list of 75 terrorists who needed to be nabbed, Tillerson replied, “We have provided them specific asks, beyond just names of individuals. We’ve provided them specific asks. But we’ve also invited greater sharing from them as well. So we expect to receive information from them that will be useful.”
Reflecting on his meetings in New Delhi, Tillerson said he had a very comprehensive discussion on economic and security links with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
“As I outlined last week in Washington, we will work to make the US-India Strategic Partnership the foundation for greater peace, stability, and growth of the Indo-Pacific region. We support India’s responsible rise and want to find new ways to partner with them and other likeminded countries in Asia,” Tillerson said.