- Title: Pakistan must adopt a different approach to terrorism -Tillerson
- Date: 22nd August 2017
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 22, 2017) (STATE TV) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON COMING TO THE LECTERN FOR THE STATE DEPT. PRESS BRIEFING REPORTER ASKING TILLERSON A QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "Pakistan and the U.S. historically had very good relationships. But over the last few years, there's been a real erosion in the confidence between our two governments. There's been an erosion in trust; because we have witnessed terrorist organizations being given safe haven inside Pakistan to plan and carry out attacks against U.S. servicemen, U.S. officials, disrupting peace efforts inside of Afghanistan. Pakistan must adopt a different approach. And we are ready to work with them to help them protect themselves against these terrorist organizations. But certainly, to begin to end their attacks that are disrupting our efforts at peace. We are going to be conditioning our support for Pakistan and our relationship with them on them delivering results in this area." WIDE OF TILLERSON LISTENING TO A REPORTER AT THE LECTERN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "We are going to be engaging with them in a very serious and thorough way as to our expectations and the conditions that go with that. And all of those things you just listed are on the table for discussion if in fact they are unwilling to change their posture or change their approach to how they're dealing with the numerous terrorist organizations that find safe haven inside of Pakistan." REPORTER ASKING TILLERSON WHAT LEVERAGE THE U.S. HAS WITH PAKISTAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "Well I think it's obvious we have some leverage that's been discussed in terms of the amount of aid and military assistance we give them, their status is as a non-NATO alliance partner. All of that can be put on the table. But you know, at the end of the day Pakistan has to decide what is in Pakistan's best long term interests from a security standpoint for themselves and for their people? Quite frankly, as I evaluate Pakistan's current situation, if I were the Pakistan government I would have growing concerns about the strength of the Taliban and other organizations inside of Pakistan who seem to be growing their numbers and their presence - to the point that at some point they become a real threat to the stability the Pakistani government itself." REPORTER ASKING TILLERSON DON'T AMERICANS DESERVE TO KNOW HOW MANY MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN WILL BE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN? (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "Well, I think and I don't want to speak for Secretary Mattis, but I think the intent is there will be visibility to troop levels once the decision has been made. I think what the president has conveyed, and I agree wholeheartedly with him, is that we are not going to signal ahead what our plans are. We're not going to signal ahead an increase or decrease, the timing, or any of that. It will be driven by conditions on the ground. The only way we can defeat an enemy that is as nimble and as cagey tactically as this enemy is we have to be as cagey and tactical as they are. And we've not been fighting that way." REPORTER ASKING A QUESTION TILLERSON LEAVING THE BRIEFING
- Embargoed: 5th September 2017 20:19
- Keywords: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson U.S. President Donald Trump Pakistan Afghanistan war Taliban Trump's new Afghan war strategy terrorism safe haven
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016V8PQVB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday (August 22) that Pakistan must adopt a different approach to terrorism and the United States will condition its support on Islamabad's delivering results in this area.
"There's been an erosion in trust because we have witnessed terrorist organizations being given safe haven inside of Pakistan to plan and carry out attacks against U.S. servicemen, U.S. officials, disrupting peace efforts inside of Afghanistan," Tillerson told reporters in the State Department.
"Pakistan must adopt a different approach, and we are ready to work with them to help them protect themselves against these terrorist organizations ... We are going to be conditioning our support for Pakistan and our relationship with them on them delivering results in this area."
Tillerson also said U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan will be announced when the decision is made by the Trump administration.
During a televised address on Monday night (August 21), Trump committed the United States to an open-ended war there but the Pentagon said on Tuesday it has yet to decide how many more U.S. troops to send to Afghanistan as it is still drawing up a plan. - Copyright Holder: STATE DEPARTMENT TV
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