‘US Senators visited to defuse tension between Afghanistan & Pakistan’

KABUL (SW): Analysts believe the reasons behind a latest trip of the US Senators to Afghanistan and Pakistan was to defuse tension between the two countries.

A three-member delegation headed by Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee toured Afghanistan on Monday after spending two days in Pakistan. Addressing a news conference at NATO’s Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Senator McCain warned against the drawdown of troops.

Jawed Kohistani, an analyst on security affairs said that the presidential elections are scheduled in the US in few months and that is why the US politicians are touring different countries to lobby for the elections.

He added that the US wants to have command over state of affairs in this part of the world and improve ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “Matters about the war on terror, defusing tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and border management measures were on the agenda in this tour”, he said.

Mohammad Younus Fakoor, another analyst noted that Pakistan has failed to meet promises it made in regard to curbing terrorism. He added that on top of it, ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have worsened that has prompted the US senators to visit the two countries.

Mohammad Ishaq Atmar, an expert on strategic affairs, said in this regard that Pakistan had in place heinous plans to expand the conflict that erupted at the Torkham crossing point, and ultimately flare-up conflict in Afghanistan via the Taliban and pro-Daesh rebels. He claimed Pakistan backed from the conflict at Torkham on the directives of the Americans.

During their meetings in Afghanistan, the US senators urged upon Pakistan to take effective measures against the Haqqani network and hideouts of the Taliban leaders in Pakistan.

ENDS