Washington under the administration of Trump keeps finding ways to put extra pressure on Pakistan to meet American demand of clamping down on terror suspects and outfits.
The Trump administration on Monday added seven Pakistani companies to a list of foreign entities that presumably pose a significant risk to the national security and policy interests of the United States by allegedly engaging in nuclear trade. In all, a total of 23 entities added to the list including seven Pakistani companies. All 23 entities now face stringent export control measures, which could prevent them from conducting international trade. The move could undermine Pakistan’s ambition of joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an elite club of countries that can trade fissile materials and nuclear technologies. The entities in question are private sector companies,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. Pakistan rightly maintained that there should be no undue restrictions on the access to dual-use items and technologies for peaceful and legitimate purposes.
Now as per a renowned American publication, White House is considering increasing more pressure on Pakistan and options including revoking Pakistan’s major non-NATO ally status, permanently cutting off the military aid and imposing a visa bars on Pakistani government officials.
After Trump administration took control, Washington announced tough policy regarding Pakistan to ask the country to take stern actions against militants. In response, Pakistan maintained that country has taken actions against all militants without any discrimination and US blames are baseless and Pakistan won’t become scapegoat of failures of US policies in Afghanistan.
Pakistan sent special delegations to US in a bid to make the American policy officials realize about the sacrifices and efforts of Pakistan in fighting war against terror. In result, Washington softened the statements regarding Pakistan and urged Pakistan to do more for eliminating terrorism but also acknowledge that Pakistan has taken positive steps. Very recently spokesperson of state department Heather Nauert said in a briefing that US has certainly seen that Pakistan took some very positive steps in the right direction.
It is also being reported that White House is divided regarding finalizing ways to deal with Pakistan. Some officials are favouring a hardline approach and others warning against alienating a nuclear-armed country of 200 million people. US officials should consider that a hardline approach regarding Pakistan is not right way forward. Pakistan has achieved significant accomplishments in war against terror. Both sides should work together in pursuit of shared objectives of eliminating terrorism and stabilizing Afghanistan. Pakistan has already made it clear to Washington that it did not need any aid but trust.