Photonews Logo Photonews logo
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Balochistan
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
    IShowSpeed Daniel La Belle race
    Videos

    IShowSpeed Beats Daniel La Belle in 40-Meter Race, Hits 41M Subscribers

    June 24, 2025 2 Min Read
    Cardi B new single Outside
    Videos

    Cardi B’s ‘Outside’ Single Sparks Buzz Over Offset and Stefon Diggs

    June 20, 2025 2 Min Read
    Squid Game Season 3
    Videos

    Squid Game Season 3: Final Trailer Unveils Epic Plot

    June 14, 2025 2 Min Read
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Reading: Terrorists are as much a threat against Pakistan as they are to us: Mattis
PhotoNews Pakistan PhotoNews Pakistan
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Balochistan
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Photonews. All Rights Reserved.
PhotoNews Pakistan > Pakistan > Terrorists are as much a threat against Pakistan as they are to us: Mattis
PakistanTop NewsWorld

Terrorists are as much a threat against Pakistan as they are to us: Mattis

Web Desk
By Web Desk Published January 6, 2018 5 Min Read
Share
SHARE

The United States is examining ways to mitigate any Pakistani retaliation as it piles pressure on Islamabad to crack down on militants, a senior US official said on Friday, cautioning that US action could extend beyond a new freeze in aid.

Pakistan is a crucial gateway for US military supplies destined for the US and other troops fighting a 16-year-old war in neighbouring, landlocked Afghanistan.

So far, the Pentagon says Pakistan has not given any indication that it would close its airspace or roads to military supplies and US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis played down concerns on Friday.

But Washington has only just begun to work through its new plan to suspend up to roughly $2 billion in US security assistance, announced on Thursday. It came days after US President Donald Trump tweeted that Pakistan had rewarded past US aid with “nothing but lies & deceit.”

The senior Trump administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Washington hoped that the aid suspension would be enough to communicate its concern to Islamabad.

But the official cautioned that the freeze was also not the only tool that the US had to pressure the country – suggesting it might resort to other measures, if needed.

“We are considering many different things, not just the (financial) assistance issue,” the official said.

“We are also looking at Pakistan’s potential response … and we are looking at ways to deal with that and to mitigate the risks to the relationship.”

The official declined to detail what steps were under consideration, including whether that might include possible unilateral US military action against militants in Pakistan.

But as Trump allow the US military to again ramp up its war effort in Afghanistan, including with the deployment of more US troops alongside Afghan forces, the official acknowledged a sense of urgency.

The United States has long blamed the militant safe havens in Pakistan for prolonging the war in Afghanistan, giving insurgents, including from the Haqqani network, a place to plot attacks and rebuild its forces.

“We believe we owe it to the Americans in harms’ way in Afghanistan. We simply can’t ignore the sanctuaries if we are going to make progress in Afghanistan,” the official said.

Mattis plays down concerns

Mattis, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, said he was not concerned about America’s ability to use Pakistan as a gateway to resupply US forces in Afghanistan.

“I‘m not concerned, no,” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon, adding he had not gotten any indication from Pakistan that it might cut off those routes. Mattis travelled to Pakistan last month.

“We’re still working with Pakistan and we would restore the aid if we see decisive movements against the terrorists – who are as much a threat against Pakistan as they are to us.”

The United States has also said some of the frozen aid could be released on a case-by-case basis, and none of it will be spent elsewhere – leaving the door open to full reconciliation.

The Pakistani reaction has so far been limited to harsh rhetoric, with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif saying the United States was behaving toward Pakistan as “a friend who always betrays.”

But opposition leader Imran Khan, a former cricket star tipped as the next Pakistani prime minister, said it was time for Pakistan to “delink” from the United States.

The senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity acknowledged that a Pakistani cut-off would greatly complicate US resupply efforts in Afghanistan.

The official said the administration was developing “risk mitigation plans,” but acknowledged that examination of a northern network of alternative routes used in the past was “still at a very broad level.”

“If something were to happen to the ground lines of communication or air lines of communication through Pakistan, certainly that would be very difficult for the US and we would have to look for alternatives,” the official said.

“And it would not be easy.” (Reuters)

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

HBL Saving Made Easy
HBL Saving Made Easy

Recent Posts

Salman Khan Battle of Galwan

Salman Khan Unveils Intense Battle of Galwan First Look

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farha

Saudi FM Prioritizes Gaza Ceasefire Over Israel Ties, Trump Eyes Abraham Accords Expansion

Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7 Cases and Colors Leaked Ahead of 2025 Launch

Post Archives

More Popular from Photonews

Pakistan default risk 2025
Business

Pakistan Leads Global Decline in Sovereign Default Risk, Bloomberg Reports

2 Min Read
Megyn Kelly Jabs at Sydney Sweeney
Entertainment

Megyn Kelly Claims Sydney Sweeney’s Invite to Bezos’ Wedding Was All About Her Breasts

3 Min Read
Trump Tariffs Rate Chart Trump tariffs China
World

Trump Signals No Tariff Pause Extension, Plans Letters with Trade Penalties

3 Min Read
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Peshawar BRT Fare Hike Sparks Public Outcry in July 2025

On July 1, 2025, the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system raised its fares, prompting widespread…

July 1, 2025
Entertainment

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Verdict: Guilty on Two Counts, Not Guilty on Three

On July 2, 2025, a New York jury delivered a mixed verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs’…

July 2, 2025
Tech

Microsoft Announces 9,000 Layoffs, Impacting Less Than 4% of Workforce

Microsoft announced plans to lay off 9,000 employees, representing less than 4% of its global workforce,…

July 2, 2025
Sports

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Defends Messi After Inter Miami’s 4-0 Club World Cup Loss

Zlatan Ibrahimovic defended Lionel Messi following Inter Miami’s 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA…

June 30, 2025
PhotoNews Pakistan

Always Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Categories

  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Punjab
  • Sindh
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Balochistan
  • Azad Jammu Kashmir

 

  • Top News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Offbeat
  • Blog

© 2024 Phototnews
All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?