Experts say Pakistan must not miss the chance to explain its viewpoint on terrorism on August 29, 2018Last week, a congratulatory telephone conversation between United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Prime Minister Imran Khan, stirred up disagreements as to what had actually been discussed between the two men, with Islamabad calling Washington’s account of the discussion ‘factually incorrect’. According to a U.S. State Department readout, Pompeo called Khan to […]
US Pompeo welcomes Afghanistan Ghani’s truce with Taliban on August 21, 2018WASHINGTON: The United States is ready to support and facilitate direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on Sunday, following Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s announcement of anEid ceasefire to mark the Eidull-Azha holiday. “The United States welcomes the announcement by the Afghan government of a ceasefire […]
US wants Pakistan to lead regional peace efforts on August 16, 2018United States Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells has said that America looks to Pakistan to take a leading role in bringing peace to South Asia. She was referring to Pakistan’s contribution to the ongoing peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the Kabul government while speaking at an […]
Indo-Pak’s nuclear perils on August 8, 2018Nuclear crisis management folk may ponder the advice given by the 66th United States Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice, to India and Pakistan when trying to avert a nuclear crisis during the 2001-2002 military Standoff, “acknowledge the right of others to do what we had done in responding to the attacks on the twin towers […]
US to restore sanctions on Iran on August 7, 2018The United States on Monday has re-imposed the first round of Iranian trade sanctions that had been suspended under the 2015 nuclear accord, increasing the divide with Europe and ratcheting pressure on Tehran. In background calls to reporters, senior U.S. officials said the sanctions that have been waived for the past two-and-a half years will […]
Trump’s latest Afghan strategy signals withdrawal on July 31, 2018 United States president latest strategy in Afghanistan is to urge U.S. backed troops to move to more heavily populated areas of the country in a bid to avoid attacks in isolated regions, The New York Times has reported. Quoting three anonymous U.S. officials familiar with Trump’s Afghan war strategy, the report states that the […]
US expresses concern over elections, willing to work with new govt on July 29, 2018The United States has expressed concerns about irregularities in Pakistan’s pre-voting electoral process, as reported by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), including ‘constraints placed on freedoms of expression and association during the campaign period’. These concerns were expressed by the State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, in a statement on Friday. However, Nauert agreed […]
US open to direct peace dialogue with Taliban on July 22, 2018In a tactical policy shift this week, the Trump administration said it will consider holding direct talks with the Taliban to encourage peace negotiations between the terrorist group and the Afghan government in an effort to bring an end to the 17-year-old war, US media reported. Previously, the Trump administration appeared willing to participate in […]
US gas import crucial to US- Pak trade relations on July 11, 2018WASHINGTON: Pakistan Ambassador to the US Ali Jehangir Siddiqui said importing more US natural gas is crucial to expanding US – Pakistan trade relations and Pakistan’s energy supply. Speaking with US media in Washington D.C., Monday he said,purchasing more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US will allow Pakistan to boost its exports while maintaining […]
DACA future still uncertain after another immigration bill failure on June 30, 2018Washington DC: House Republicans failed to pass another GOP leadership immigration bill this Wednesday; despite furious negotiations to develop a ‘compromise’ bill between conservatives and moderate republicans, the failure has left thousands of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients uncertain about their future. The fate of DACA programme has been in limbo for nearly […]