Differences over Afghanistan threaten ‘tenuous’ US, Pak alliance: Editorial

ISLAMABAD - While massive diplomatic efforts are on to reduce fissures between the United States and Pakistan, the lack of trust and coordination between the two allies refuses to die down.

The issues that glue together the tenuous alliance between Pakistan and the US are negated by the issues that divide them, an editorial in one of Pakistan’s leading English dailies said.

“The unstated difference that is the subtext of all diplomatic engagements between the two sides is the contradiction at the heart of Pakistan’s policy of supporting the Afghan Taliban,” the editorial in the Daily Times said.

It warned that the persistent issue between Islamabad and Washington would ultimately give way to a rift so wide, which would be very difficult to fill.

“This ‘division’ could end up causing headaches to both sides and eventually even a rift, especially since President Obama’s desire to train and leave behind effective Afghan forces and start withdrawing American forces could run foul of an intact and resurgent Taliban movement in Afghanistan,” the editorial went on to add. (ANI)