“We put our points forward. We put our expectations forward in no uncertain terms. There has been significant engagement prior to my visit, and there will be further engagement in the future, as we work through how we want to exchange information and achieve the objective of eliminating these terrorist organisations, wherever they may be located,” Tillerson said.
Tillerson described his communication with the Pakistani leadership as very frank and very candid.
“We had the joint meeting with Prime Minister Abbasi and the full leadership team. And then I had a second meeting with Army General Bajwa and a couple of his close advisers, so we could have a more thorough discussion about some of the specifics,” he said, adding that he thinks that it was a very open, candid and frank exchange.
“There’s nothing to be achieved by lecturing, but we should be very clear about expectations and what we’re asking. And either people will step up and meet those expectations or they won’t. We are going to chart our course consistent with what Pakistan not just says they do but what they actually do,” Tillerson said.
Noting that the future course of action would be based on conditions on the ground, he said the entire South Asia strategy is a conditions-based strategy.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif in a meeting yesterday with National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs said that Pakistan will neither surrender to the US nor compromise on its sovereignty.
Asif claimed that no specific “wish list” has been given to Pakistan by the US.
The US has given a list of 75 wanted terrorists and pressed Islamabad for going tough on Haqqani network.
Responding to a question on Asif’s comments, the State Department spokesperson said that Tillerson on his trip has put the US’ “expectations” in front of the leadership of Pakistan.
The spokesperson said that Tillerson during his visit to Pakistan told its leadership that America wants to work with Pakistan in a “positive way” because it is also in Islamabad’s interest in long-term.
“We put our points forward. We put our expectations forward in no uncertain terms. There has been significant engagement prior to my visit, and there will be further engagement in the future, as we work through how we want to exchange information and achieve the objective of eliminating these terrorist organisations, wherever they may be located,” Tillerson said.
Tillerson described his communication with the Pakistani leadership as very frank and very candid.
“We had the joint meeting with Prime Minister Abbasi and the full leadership team. And then I had a second meeting with Army General Bajwa and a couple of his close advisers, so we could have a more thorough discussion about some of the specifics,” he said, adding that he thinks that it was a very open, candid and frank exchange.
“There’s nothing to be achieved by lecturing, but we should be very clear about expectations and what we’re asking. And either people will step up and meet those expectations or they won’t. We are going to chart our course consistent with what Pakistan not just says they do but what they actually do,” Tillerson said.
Noting that the future course of action would be based on conditions on the ground, he said the entire South Asia strategy is a conditions-based strategy.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif in a meeting yesterday with National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs said that Pakistan will neither surrender to the US nor compromise on its sovereignty.
Asif claimed that no specific “wish list” has been given to Pakistan by the US.
The US has given a list of 75 wanted terrorists and pressed Islamabad for going tough on Haqqani network.
Responding to a question on Asif’s comments, the State Department spokesperson said that Tillerson on his trip has put the US’ “expectations” in front of the leadership of Pakistan.
The spokesperson said that Tillerson during his visit to Pakistan told its leadership that America wants to work with Pakistan in a “positive way” because it is also in Islamabad’s interest in long-term.