March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
31
News Every Day |

‘No boots on the ground here’: Pakistan rules out possibility of housing US troops on its bases after withdrawal from Afghanistan

‘No boots on the ground here’: Pakistan rules out possibility of housing US troops on its bases after withdrawal from Afghanistan

Citing a need to protect its national interest and the Afghan peace process, Pakistan’s top diplomat has nixed any possibility of reopening air bases for future US anti-Taliban operations after the troop pullout ends in September.

Pakistani bases, airspace and all-season supply routes and communication lines into neighboring Afghanistan had been crucial in enabling and sustaining the US-led military invasion following the 9/11 attacks two decades ago.

However, at a press meet in the capital Islamabad on Tuesday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan would not participate in any future US military campaigns – and will choose to remain “partners in peace.”

“No. We don’t intend to allow boots on the ground here, and Pakistan isn’t transferring any base (to the US)... We will be partners in peace, and this will be our role – the role of a facilitator,” said Qureshi, responding to a question on whether the government was under pressure to turn over bases to US.

“There is no pressure. Pakistan will protect its interests,” he added.

Last month, US President Joe Biden said the remaining 2,500-3,500 US troops and around 7,000 NATO soldiers will withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11, more than four months after the May 1 deadline agreed upon by the Taliban and Washington as part of an accord reached last year.

Biden had also stated that the US would “reorganize its counter-terrorism capabilities and assets in the region” to deter potential terror threats.

Also on rt.com
FILE PHOTO:  Afghan Taliban militants and residents stand on a armoured Humvee vehicle of the Afghan National Army (ANA) as they celebrate a ceasefire, Kandahar, Afghanistan, June 17, 2018 © AFP / Javed Tanveer
As Trump’s withdrawal date passes, Taliban warn they may ‘take action’ against US troops in Afghanistan

During a press briefing last month, General Kenneth McKenzie, who heads US Central Command, said American diplomats were examining “what the art of the possible is” regarding basing agreements with Afghanistan’s neighbors to see where troops can be repositioned – but did not name Pakistan, which shares a roughly 2,600-kilometer land border with the war-torn country.

“We do have other options that are on the table. We will explore those options even as the whole of government – the inter-agency process looks to find the best possible combination of basing options to support future counter-terrorist contingency operations,” said McKenzie.

Nor have US officials commented on media conjecture that the matter of basing rights might be hashed out in bilateral discussions. Speculation on such has been fueled by reports that Pakistan’s air force is constructing a new air base in the Balochistan region, where another base once housed US drones.

Last week, however, US State Secretary Antony Blinken implied that Pakistan had been a “free rider” in the conflict – speaking aloud the popular American perception that it and other neighboring countries had benefited from the presence of US and NATO troops without making significant contributions.

“The decision [to pull out] has concentrated the minds of pretty much everyone inside and outside of Afghanistan and the region as well. For the last 20 years, they’ve been – to some extent – free riders on us, on NATO, on our partners,” Blinken said. “They now have to decide, including Pakistan, where their interests lie.”

But Qureshi said Pakistan’s government had adopted an “explicit policy” with regards to partnering with the US in the peace process, noting that Islamabad had been using its leverage over the Taliban to coax them into reaching a settlement with Afghan authorities.

“It’s our need, and we want it to happen this way,” he said, adding that Afghans would have to take ownership of the peace process to make it work.

Also on rt.com
FILE PHOTO. Afghan National Army soldiers. © Reuters / Parwiz
At least 13 killed in two bus bombings across Afghanistan as Taliban announces three-day Eid ceasefire

Like this story? Share it with a friend!

Москва

Сергей Собянин: Новый путепровод улучшит пропускную способность других трасс

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Ria.city






Read also

Macron quips about cuddly 'wedding' pics with Lula

Heartstopper fans left gutted after major star confirms exit ahead of series three of Netflix smash hit

NCAA Tournament: Alabama outlasts North Carolina to reach Elite Eight

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Теннисистка Александрова оказалась сильнее полячки Швентек на турнире WTA в США



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

«Радио Зенит» – информационный партнер форума «Мы вместе. Спорт»



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

GeekVape в сотрудничестве с Absolute Racing выиграла чемпионат в категории GT3


Новости России

Game News

Для Wuthering Waves проходит предрегистрация в App Store и Google Play


Russian.city


Москва

Центральный офис МФЦ в Лобне расширят и отремонтируют


Губернаторы России
Выставка

Выставка военных фотокорреспондентов и художника Росгвардии «СВОй VZгляд» открылась в Москве


Metaratings: "Спартак" может уволить Абаскаля по ходу сезона, клуб ищет тренера

Заказать недорогой ремонт шкафов купе в Москве и Московской области

Жуков проиграл суд за права на несколько хитов группы «Руки вверх!»

Федерация бокса России на ВДНХ


Как Розенбаум судился с мусорщиками, Шнур прогорел на «Пушкине», а Нагиев заработал 4 тысячи рублей за год

На ЧЭРЗ приступили к реорганизации производственной площадки

Певица Диана Арбенина опубликовала редкое фото сына

Музыкант Устьянцев: Сергей Шнуров — профессионал, а Жуков — «балалаечка»


Рыбакина, наряду со Свёнтек, имеет 70% побед на WTA-1000 против соперниц из топ-10

Хачанов победил Черундоло и пробился в 1/8 финала турнира ATP в Майами

Теннисистка Касаткина отреагировала на высказывания Винер о россиянах

Чесноков оценил шансы Александровой в борьбе за выход в финал турнира WTA в Майами



«Радио Зенит» – информационный партнер форума «Мы вместе. Спорт»

Архитектурные доминанты округов Москвы

Пассажир рейса Москва — Пермь попал в реанимацию

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)


Кубок Орловской области по спортивной гимнастике

Финал всероссийского студенческого трека Олимпиады Кружкового движения НТО «Летающая робототехника» 2024

Перенос дат II этапа культурного проекта «Классика: история и современность» в Дмитрове

«Авангард» победил «Локомотив» со счетом 3:2 и сравнял счет в серии плей-офф КХЛ


Студенты-волонтеры из Ступина присоединились к акции «Зажги синим»

«Домклик»: Средний размер первого взноса по ипотеке в Свердловской области — 35,5%

Starhit: Степаненко будет судиться с родней подруги из-за унаследованных квартир

Депутат из Подмосковья получил 7 лет в колонии за производство марихуаны



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Дима Билан

Дима Билан стал «Мистером Х» в проекте “Новая битва экстрасенсов” на ТНТ



News Every Day

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости