WASHINGTON/Islamabad: Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States has asked the US to provide Pakistan with small arms and modern equipment to ensure the success of Islamabad’s newly approved counter-terrorism operation, Operation Azmi Istekam.
The decision to launch Operation Azm-e-Istekam was taken on June 22 at a meeting of the Supreme Committee for the National Action Plan, a strategy approved in 2014 to eliminate extremism in the country.
The federal government recently approved a revitalized national counterterrorism program.
“Pakistan has launched Azmi Isteqam to counter and dismantle terrorist organisations. For this, it needs sophisticated small arms and communication equipment,” Ambassador Masood Khan told Dawn.
He made these remarks while addressing US policymakers, academics, intellectuals and business leaders at the Wilson Center, a Washington think tank, earlier this week.
Khan explained that “Azm-i-Istekam” has three components: doctrinal, social and operational. He said work on the first two phases has already begun, while the third will be implemented soon.
The decision to launch the new counterterrorism operation comes as the country faces new attacks by what officials say are Afghanistan-based Taliban militants.
Khan stressed that Pakistan and the United States should maintain a strong security relationship, strengthen intelligence cooperation, resume sales of advanced military platforms and work to “sustain US-made defence equipment”.
“This is critical to regional security and to countering the growing threat of terrorism that threatens the interests of the United States and our allies,” he added.
Khan asserted that bilateral relations should be based on reality and should not be hampered by some issues.
“Secondly, the entire relationship should not be held hostage on one or two issues,” he noted.
He pointed out high-level defence consultations, frequent meetings and joint military exercises such as ‘Inspired Union 2024’, ‘Falcon Talon’ and ‘Red Flag’ as examples of strong defence cooperation between Pakistan and the US.
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.
“In this era of renewed strategic competition, the United States and Pakistan should build on their existing partnership and explore new horizons to establish areas of mutual interest,” the envoy said.
“We should not build a relationship based on mismatched expectations. While we seek to strengthen security and economic cooperation, our relationship should be rooted in reality. Secondly, we should not hold the entire relationship hostage on one or two issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, the US State Department expressed support for Pakistan.
On June 26, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, in response to a question, said, “We support Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its people in a manner that promotes the rule of law and the protection of human rights.”
“The Pakistani people have suffered greatly from these terrorist attacks. No country should have to suffer from such acts of terrorism,” he added.
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