New Delhi: The United States and Pakistan have a history with each other but they also have a history of overlooking that history, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, reminding of the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden near Islamabad in 2011.
Jaishankar’s remarks came when asked about the US-Pakistan realignment under the Trump administration.
“They have a history with each other. And they have a history of overlooking that history. It is not the first time we have seen things,” he said at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum.
“And the interesting thing is when you look sometimes at the certificates that say somebody in the military will give. It is the same military which went to Abbottabad and found, you know who, there,” the external affairs minister said.
“The issue, in a way, is when countries are very focussed on doing politics of convenience, they keep trying to do this. Some of it can be tactical, some of it can have some other benefits or calculations,” he said.
Laden was killed by US Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011 in Abbottabad, a garrison town located near Pakistani capital Islamabad. The US did not inform Pakistan before carrying out the top-secret operation.
In June, Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir was hosted by US President Donald Trump in the White House.
In his remarks, Jaishankar also talked about the strength of the India-US ties.
“Obviously, I respond to the situation or the challenge of the day. But I also do so always keeping in mind the larger structural sort of strengths of the relationship and the confidence that comes from it,” he said.
“So I take it in that spirit. I know what I am about. I know what my strengths are, I know what is the importance and relevance of my relationship. So that is what guides me,” he added.
Asked about Trump’s repeated claims that he resolved a recent India-Pakistan military conflict, Jaishankar said it ended following negotiations between the two neighbours.
“It is a fact that phone calls were made at the time. Calls were made by the US and other countries as well. This is not a secret. When something like this happens, countries do call up,” he said, asserting that the conflict ended following talks between India and Pakistan.
