Oakley warns against ignoring Pakistan

WASHINGTON—Emphasizing the vital importance of long-term US-Pakistan relations, former American ambassador to the country Robert Oakley has called for continued support for the South Asian ally as it strives for security, stability and democracy.
The former diplomat cautioned against advocating moves like aid-cut for Pakistan and said such steps in the past proved counterproductive. He also supported sustaining strong defense ties between the two countries.
“The worst thing the United States could do now would be to cut back support for Pakistan,” he warned, co-writing an article with a scholar, Joshua Yaphe in The Washington Post. “We should remain committed for the long haul,” he wrote while discussing challenges facing the country in terms of security, stability and democracy.
The United States and Pakistan have a long history together, he said and cited that the Pressler congressional Amendment in 1990s harmed bilateral ties.
Oakley stressed the United States should continue cooperating with Pakistan in the fight against al-Qaeda and other extremists and added the US should resist any calls for cut in military assistance for Pakistan.—Agencies
He wrote Pakistan’s military takes care of its strategic assets and has always been a major force holding the country together.
“Pakistan’s army will remain a major force uniting the country. Its cooperation is essential in the fight against al-Qaeda and to prevent cross-border insurgent activities in Afghanistan,” he observed, underscoring that “it has been a long road rebuilding US-Pakistan relations, and we cannot afford to damage them again at this sensitive moment.”