If US wants help (in Afghanistan), then they must pressure India, says Shah Mahmood Qureshi

NEW DELHI: Pakistan has for the first time publicly revealed that it is seeking US assistance for peace along the border with India in a quid pro quo for Islamabad’s support for Trump’s campaign to stabilise Afghanistan.

Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said this during his remarks at the Asia Society in New York, ahead of his speech at the UN General Assembly, where he blamed India for terror attacks, including one at Peshawar school a few years back for which a militant outfit Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had claimed responsibility.

“Today India is a strategic partner of the US, we have no problem with that,” Qureshi told the audience at the Asia Society referring to growing ties between New Delhi and Washington. He added: “Have new ones, (but) why lose old friends.” In return for continued help to the US in Afghanistan, Qureshi wanted Washington to pressure India on relations with Pakistan.

“If the US wants us to help (in Afghanistan) and we want to help in our own interest... then they have to tell their new strategic partner to give us ease on the eastern side so we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest.”

India’s former high commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarathy said it was unlikely that President Donald Trump will buy Qureshi’s arguments. Concurring with his views, former official with the cabinet secretariat and author of two books on Pakistan, Tilak Devasher said “Pakistan is desperate to 'reset' relations with the US. To that end, it is willing to try and use any tactic to grab US attention. UNGA is a good forum for annual Indian bashing. Normally it is Kashmir. This time, the aborted meeting has become a convenient talking point. I doubt if the US would swallow the bait. Everyone can see through Pakistan's game.”