Doha, August 25 (TNS): While formal diplomacy between Pakistan and the United States is struggling, especially after President Trump\u2019s highly critical speech, the two countries have established back-channel contacts to resolve their differences over key issues, a Qatar based media reported.
\nEarlier this month, a group of former diplomats, military officials and security experts from the two countries held their third off-the-record meeting in Washington to discuss thorny issues including Pakistan\u2019s support for Afghan peace, increasing US ties with Pakistan\u2019s arch-rival India, New Delhi\u2019s role in Afghanistan and Islamabad\u2019s drift toward Beijing after initiation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
\nAfter attending the talks, former Pakistan ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani said the two sides are having frank discussion on issues and will prepare recommendations for the government for future of ties.
\nHe said the informal interaction, also called the \u201cTrack II diplomacy\u201d, aims at bringing private individuals and groups from the two countries to promote a better understanding of issues and suggest solutions.
\nPakistan\u2019s current ambassador to the US, Aizaz Chaudhry welcomed the interaction.
\n\u201cTrack II is not a substitute for official contacts but officials can benefit from the ideas generated,\u201d he said.
\nRepresentatives from Pakistani side also included the former head of Military Intelligence Lt Gen (R) Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad and former ambassador to Afghanistan Mohamed Sadiq while US side included former US assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher, former ambassador Robin Raphel and security experts Dr Tricia Bacon and David Smith.
\nIn his policy speech on Afghanistan on Monday, President Donald Trump lashed out at Pakistan urging it to stop giving sanctuary to \u201cagents of chaos, violence and terror.\u201d
\n\u201cWe can no longer be silent about Pakistan\u2019s safe havens for terrorist organisations, the Taliban and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond,\u201d he said.
\nPakistan angrily reacted to Trump\u2019s speech expressing disappointment over lack of acknowledgement by the president of Pakistan\u2019s sacrifices in war against terror.
\nIslamabad is also not happy with US support for its arch-rival India\u2019s role in Afghanistan.
\nMichael Kugelman, Deputy Director of Asia Programme at The Wilson Centre, says the Track II dialogue is meant to convene former government and military officials in a closed, off-the-record environment to discuss possible pathways for co-operation.
\n\u201cIn that sense, the most significant aspect of this interaction was the fact that it took place at all,\u201d he says.
\nHe said apart from terrorism and Afghanistan both sides also discussed some new potential areas of co-operation, including in the field of economics. \u201cIn essence, the dialogue clarified the potential and limits of the relationship. That\u2019s a useful thing at a moment when the future of the US-Pakistan relationship is so unsettled,\u201d he said.
\nRichard Boucher praised Pakistan for its efforts in war against terror and supported Islamabad\u2019s proposal for the border management with Afghanistan.
\n\u201cPakistan has expanded its control of its territory, especially into the tribal areas, but still needs to control its border to prevent fighters and supplies from moving across in both directions. We should support that effort,\u201d he says.
\nBoucher believes Pakistan and Afghanistan will have to be able to control their borders to achieve lasting peace in each country.
\nThe talks are being hosted by two think tanks, Washington DC-based Wilson Centre and Islamabad-based Regional Peace Institute.
\nAmbassador Aizaz Chaudhry said Pakistan desires peace and stability in Afghanistan as peace in Kabul is good for the entire region.
\nBut Pakistani diplomat stressed that after 16 years of conflict, it is clear that lasting peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved through a comprehensive political process.
\n\u201cPakistan stands ready to work with Afghanistan and the United States to that end,\u201d he said.
\nThis objective is not served when one country indulges in a vicious blame game against the other, the ambassador said. \u201cIncidentally, it is Pakistan not Afghanistan that has instituted strict border management measures to control cross-border movement.
\nIt is time we recognise that,\u201d he said.
\nHe said terrorism incidents are on decline in Pakistan at a time when these incidents are on the rise in the rest of the world.
\n\u201cPakistan would not have achieved such success without conducting counterterrorism operations that were comprehensive and indiscriminate in scope,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
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