NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Masood Khan has urged Washington to provide Pakistan with small arms and modern equipment to ensure the success of Operation Azm-e-Istekam.
He said Pakistan has launched an operation to destroy terrorist networks and for that it needs modern small arms and communication means.
Speaking to a group of US policymakers, academics, experts and business leaders at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington, Khan said the operation includes three components: ideological, social and operational. He said work on the first two phases has already begun, with the third phase coming soon.
Operation Azm-e-Istekam in KP province: “Terrorism should not be associated with only one province”
Khan stressed the need for Pakistan and the United States to maintain a strong security relationship, strengthen intelligence cooperation and resume sales of advanced military platforms.
He added that the operation is “essential to counter rising terrorism that also threatens the regional security interests of the United States and its allies.”
The Pakistani ambassador to the US stressed that the bilateral relations between the two countries are based on reality and a few issues should not become an obstacle and one or two issues should not affect the entire relationship.
Khan also suggested the United States should consider Pakistan as a partner in its diplomatic efforts in Kabul and cooperate on counterterrorism and the rights of Afghan women and girls.
“This is critical to regional security and to countering the rise of terrorism that threatens the interests of the United States and our allies,” he said. Khan said the bilateral relationship must be rooted in reality while seeking stronger security and economic ties. “Second, we cannot hold the entire relationship hostage on one or two issues,” he said.
Khan took to social media platform X to say, “Speaking at a massive gathering on ‘The Future of Pakistan-US Relations’ @TheWilsonCenter. Powerful remarks by @State_SCA PDAS @ElizabethKHorst. Thanks @MichaelKugelman and Ghazanfar Hashmi. Great panellists, rich atmosphere. Bright prospects for Pakistan-US relations.”
