The US Defence Secretary James Mattis will arrive here on (Monday) today on a day-long visit, during which he will meet hold meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. He will discuss Pakistan's role in Afghan reconciliation process, regional security and other bilateral issues. The sources said that Pakistan will reiterate its stance which it had pressed during US Secretary of States Rex Tillerson's visit to Islamabad in October.
During a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Pakistan made it crystal clear that the country had produced results in fighting the menace of terrorism. Besides, Tillerson was also told that US should identify if had any proof of terrorist safe havens in the country and it was ready to take action.
A senior government who declined to be named said that Pakistan's stance is very clear as we want good relations with the US based on mutual respect, and acknowledgement of our sacrifices in the war against terrorism. He said India is involved in human rights violations and killing of innocent Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir, but even then US tilt towards New Delhi is beyond comprehension.
"We will not accept any role to India in the region...we have made it clear to Tillerson and we will tell this to Mattis," he added. The US defence secretary will hold meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss bilateral ties as he is the second top official who will be visiting Pakistan since Donald Trump took over.
Pakistan and the US have been unable to bridge their differences despite a series of high-level meetings in the wake of President Donald Trump's speech bitterly criticizing Pakistan for allegedly housing the very terrorists Americans are fighting in Afghanistan -a claim Pakistan has constantly been denying.
Last month, United States Central Command (Centcom) Commander General Joseph Votel visited Pakistan, where he held a series of meetings with Pakistani civil and military leadership. Apart from PM Abbasi, the Centcom commander also met General Bajwa, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Hayat and Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar.
His visit followed the trip of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in October. Trump's tough talks against Pakistan in August accusing it of harbouring militants saw Islamabad angrily hit back at the claims, insisting they discount the thousands of lives lost and billions spent in fighting extremism.
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