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DPA
Islamabad
President Donald Trump has authorised the resumption of Pakistan’s participation in a US military training and educational programme, more than a year after suspending it.
The measure signals a warming in relations following a White House meeting last year between Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan, and also comes as Islamabad plays a key role in the Afghan peace process.
“It is first step towards a wider and deeper engagement between the two countries,” Talat Masood, a retired general told DPA on Saturday. The US realised it cannot afford to ignore Pakistan, he said.
Almost all US security assistance to Pakistan was suspended in January 2018 after Trump accused Islamabad of not doing enough to crack down on terrorist groups, including those operating in Afghanistan with which Islamabad has influence.
Trump has “authorised the resumption” of International Military Education and Training for Pakistan to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and advance US national security, US acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells said in a tweet. However, she added that “the overall security assistance suspension for Pakistan remains in effect.”
Islamabad
President Donald Trump has authorised the resumption of Pakistan’s participation in a US military training and educational programme, more than a year after suspending it.
The measure signals a warming in relations following a White House meeting last year between Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan, and also comes as Islamabad plays a key role in the Afghan peace process.
“It is first step towards a wider and deeper engagement between the two countries,” Talat Masood, a retired general told DPA on Saturday. The US realised it cannot afford to ignore Pakistan, he said.
Almost all US security assistance to Pakistan was suspended in January 2018 after Trump accused Islamabad of not doing enough to crack down on terrorist groups, including those operating in Afghanistan with which Islamabad has influence.
Trump has “authorised the resumption” of International Military Education and Training for Pakistan to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and advance US national security, US acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells said in a tweet. However, she added that “the overall security assistance suspension for Pakistan remains in effect.”
