Pak’s support to terror groups chief obstacle to dialogue with India: US

“Pakistan’s harbouring of terrorist groups like Lashkar-e- Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammed, which seek to foment violence across the Line of Control, is destabilising,” Wells said

The US on Tuesday said it supports a direct dialogue between India and Pakistan as outlined in the Shimla Agreement, asserting that the “chief obstacle” to talks remain Islamabad’s continued support to extremist groups that engage in cross-border terrorism.

“We believe that direct dialogue between India and Pakistan, as outlined in the 1972 Shimla Agreement, holds the most potential for reducing tensions,” Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells told Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.She said during 2006-2007 backchannel negotiations, India and Pakistan reportedly made significant progress on a number of issues, including Kashmir.

“History shows us what is possible,” Wells said in a prepared statement submitted to the Congressional subcommittee on the eve of the hearing “Human Rights in South Asia: Views from the State Department and the Region”. “Restarting a productive bilateral dialogue requires building trust, and the chief obstacle remains Pakistan’s continued support for extremist groups that engage in cross-border terrorism,” she said.

The United States, Wells said, welcomes Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent unambiguous statement that terrorists from Pakistan who carry out violence in Kashmir are enemies of both Kashmiris and Pakistan. “Pakistan’s harbouring of terrorist groups like Lashkar-e- Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammed, which seek to foment violence across the Line of Control, is destabilising, and Pakistani authorities remain accountable for their actions,” she said in a warning to Pakistan….

Concerned over human rights abuse, religious discrimination in Pakistan: US

It urged the Pakistani government to uphold the rule of law and the freedoms enshrined in the country’s Constitution

Describing shrinking space for civil society and media freedom in Pakistan as “troubling”, the United States on Tuesday said it remains “deeply concerned” over reports of human rights abuses and discrimination faced by people in the country because of their faith. It urged the Pakistani government to uphold the rule of law and the freedoms enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells in a prepared statement to Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee hoped that the reforms Pakistan is undertaking under its current IMF plan will lay the foundation for better economic management and growth, leading to an improvement in the democratic system and human rights situation.

“In recent years, we have observed some troubling trends within Pakistan, including shrinking space for civil society and media freedom. Pressure on the media and civil society including harassment, threats, and financial and regulatory action, has increased over the past year,” she said in a prepared statement submitted to the Congressional subcommittee on the eve of the hearing “Human Rights in South Asia: Views from the State Department and the Region”…

US says time to build upon commitments made during Imran Khan’s visit

We are working closely with the Pakistanis on recovering hostages, said US

In the wake of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to the US, wherein he met President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the United States on Thursday said the time had come to expand on those responsibilities.

“We are focused on harmony in Afghanistan. We imagine that was a significant advance. Furthermore, there was various issues that were talked about in the President’s gathering as well as with the Secretary’s gathering too, and this is the ideal opportunity to expand upon that gathering and expand upon those responsibilities,” State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus told columnists at a news meeting.

Depicting Khan’s gathering with Trump and Pompeo prior this week as an “underlying” one, she said this allowed to the president and the secretary to meet the Pakistani leader and fabricate an individual association and affinity.(Click Here for International News)

“Presently we think the time has come to gain ground on the accomplishment of this first gathering. I would note something that the head administrator said that he pledged to ask the Taliban to consult with the Afghan government,” Ortagus said. The US, she stated, was focused on the battle against fear based oppression.

“With regards to battling fear mongering, you have a secretary of state who has been focused on this his whole profession and that is something that he is continually going to raise with partners and companions and whomever gets together,” Ortagus said. The US, she stated, was working with Pakistan to get prisoners discharged…

‘Sandwiched’ Pak, two-front dilemma & Afghan-India ties: Imran’s worry list

‘We would do anything, I mean, if (there is) any role Pakistan can play in this. We have already suggested this to Iran’, said Imran Khan

International News: Forewarning the United States about any misfortune against Iran, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said any activity on the lines of Iraq could be much more awful and individuals would overlook al-Qaeda.

“My stress over Iran is…. I am uncertain about whether every one of the nations understand the gravity of the circumstance if there is a contention with Iran,” Khan said in light of an inquiry during his appearance at the US Institute of Peace, a research organization financed by the US Congress.

“You know, this won’t be equivalent to (the 2003 US attack of) Iraq. This could be a whole lot worse…. It could release fear based oppression, which – individuals would overlook al-Qaeda…. You know, the fight may be very short on the off chance that it proceeds, besieging runways, etc,” he said.

“Yet, the outcomes from that point forward, my stress is that very few individuals completely get it. Also, I would unequivocally ask that there ought not be…another military circumstance,” Khan said in the midst of an acceleration of strain among Iran and the US. “We would do anything, I mean, if (there is) any job Pakistan can play in this. We have just recommended this to Iran,” he said…