Pakistan, US agree to promote regional stability ahead of Moscow peace talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States agreed on Tuesday to promote peace and stability in the region, ahead of talks aimed at ending the conflict in Afghanistan.
“Evolving regional situation and peace and stability in Afghanistan were discussed,” said Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry after talks were held with ambassador Alice Wells from the US State Department.
Wells also called on Finance Minister Asad Umar during her day-long visit to Islamabad.
“Pakistani side emphasised the need to diversify the relationship with particular focus on enhanced economic and trade cooperation,” the Foreign Ministry  said, “the two sides also agreed to diversify the bilateral relationship.”
The ministry said the US delegation also appreciated the need to strengthen the bilateral relationship “with Pakistan, which was an important country of the region.”
The ambassador’s visit comes days before Russia hosts peace talks that are expected to be attended by representatives from Iran, China and Pakistan.
A five-member Afghan Taliban delegation, led by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanakzai, will also attend.
Amjad Shoaib, a defence and security analyst, said the US was annoyed at the Russia-led peace process and that it was trying to convince Pakistan to scuttle the move.
“The US has been pushing Pakistan to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table, but (on) its own terms and conditions, which has not been possible so far,” he told Arab News.
Shoaib said the US was also using its leverage at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to pressure Pakistan to “bring stability in Afghanistan without Russia and China.”
“The United States also wants to give an important role to India in Afghanistan which is unacceptable to Islamabad,” he said.“There is little hope of improvement in our relationship with the US in the current scenario.”
An IMF mission is scheduled to visit Pakistan from November 7 for two weeks to finalise a fresh bailout package.
But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned in July that any potential IMF bailout for Pakistan’s new government should not provide funds to pay off Chinese lenders.
“There’s no rationale for IMF tax dollars, and associated with that American dollars that are part of the IMF funding, for those to go to bail out Chinese bondholders or China itself,” he  said.
Professor Tahir Malik, academic and analyst, said US influence in Afghanistan had increased over time while new  players like Russia and China have been cultivating their influence over the Taliban.
“Both Pakistan and the US would remain engaged for peace in Afghanistan, but warmth in the relationship is not expected anytime soon,” he told Arab News. “At the moment Islamabad stands nothing to lose as Washington has already cut financial aid and defence cooperation with it.”