ISLAMABAD: Retired United States Army General Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s defense secretary pick, said on Tuesday he believed continuing to build relations with the Pakistani military would allow the two nations “to cooperate on key issues,” saying he would focus on training future Pakistan army leaders.

The outgoing government of President Donald Trump had quietly cut scores of Pakistani officers from coveted training programs — including the International Military Education and Training program (IMET) — that have been a hallmark of bilateral military relations for more than a decade. It also canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in security and military aid.

“I will press Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used as a sanctuary for militants and violent extremist organizations,” Austin said at a confirmation hearing for the post of secretary of defense before the United States Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. “Continuing to build relationships with Pakistan’s military will provide openings for the United States and Pakistan to cooperate on key issues.”

“I will focus on our shared interests which include training future Pakistan military leaders through the use of International Military Education and Training funds,” the general said. “Pakistan will play an important role in any political settlement in Afghanistan. We also need to work with Pakistan to defeat Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (Daesh-K) and to enhance regional stability.”

“Pakistan is an essential partner in any peace process in Afghanistan,” he added, referring to ongoing US-brokered peace talks between the Kabul government and Taliban insurgents to end almost two decades of war. Pakistan is considered key in helping bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

“If confirmed, I will encourage a regional approach that garners support from neighbors like Pakistan, while also deterring regional actors, from serving as spoilers to the Afghanistan peace process,” the general added.

Austin said Pakistan had taken “constructive steps” in recent years to meet US requests in support of the Afghanistan peace process.

“Pakistan has also taken steps against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-i-Taiba and Jaish-i-Mohammad, although this progress is incomplete,” Austin said.

“Many factors in addition to the security assistance suspension may impact Pakistan’s cooperation, including Afghanistan negotiations and the dangerous escalation following the Pulwama terrorist attack,” he added, referring to a suicide attack in which at least 40 Indian security personnel were killed in a town in Indian-administered Kashmir last year.

When asked what options the US had to influence Pakistan, the general said: “Pakistan is a sovereign country.”