ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Pakistan expressed grave concern over the recent drone strike in Balochistan and America’s support for Indiais inclusion in the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG), during a meeting with a top US delegation visiting Islamabad to discuss strained relations between the two sides.
According to a statement, the American side was led by Senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at US National Security Council Peter Lavoy while the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz led the Pakistani side.
US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Olson, US Ambassador David Hale, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and Foregin Secretary Aizaz Chaudhary were also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, Sartaj Aziz told the American delegates that the United States’ support for India’s inclusion in the NSG was discriminatory and would kickstart a fresh arms race in South Asia. He added that India’s inclusion in the NSG would promote instability in the region.
The Pakistani delegation said that the American drone strike in Balochistan that killed Mullah Mansour last month had violated Pakistan’s international border and derailed the Afghan peace process as well. The attack is also a violation of the United Nations’ charter and such conduct with an allied state was not justified, Aziz asserted.
On the occasion, the US delegation was also shown the video confession of RAW officer Kalbhushan Yadav, who was arrested from Balochistan. Other documentary and material evidences of Indian involvement in Balochistan and Karachi were also presented to the American side.
Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan is highly concerned about the growing US-Indian relationship and it seeks fresh assurance of its security in such a situation.
A five member United States delegation had, last night, arrived in Islamabad to discuss the country’s strained ties with Pakistan.
Apart from meetings with civilian leadership, the delegation will also hold dialogue with Pakistan’s military including Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.
This was the first ever high level contact between the two countries after Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansour’s killing in a US drone attack in Balochistan last month.
