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Susan Rice meets Pakistan's PM in Islamabad to discuss militant attacks Obama invites Pakistan's PM to White House as Susan Rice visits Islamabad
(about 2 hours later)
President Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, met Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, on Sunday to press concerns over attacks launched by militants based in Pakistan, officials said. Barack Obama has invited Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to visit the White House in October, US national security adviser Susan Rice said in a tweet on Sunday.
The visit to Islamabad, part of an Asian tour that included an earlier stop in China, comes amid uncertainty over whether the US will release $300m in military aid to Pakistan. Rice traveled to Pakistan to meet with senior officials to “advance our mutual interests and address areas of concern, particularly terrorist and militant attacks emanating from Pakistani soil”, a senior US official said on Saturday.
“Conveyed @POTUS invitation to PM Sharif to visit the @WhiteHouse in October to continue discussions”, said the tweet at m.twitter.com/AmbassadorRice.
Rice’s visit to Islamabad, part of an Asian tour that included an earlier stop in China, comes amid uncertainty over whether the US will release $300m in military aid to Pakistan.
Media reports have suggested the money could be held back if the US determines Pakistan is not doing enough to combat the Haqqani network, which has launched some of the deadliest attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan.Media reports have suggested the money could be held back if the US determines Pakistan is not doing enough to combat the Haqqani network, which has launched some of the deadliest attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Rice “will address areas of mutual interest and of concern, including terrorist and militant attacks emanating from Pakistani soil”, said a senior US official who asked not to be identified.Rice “will address areas of mutual interest and of concern, including terrorist and militant attacks emanating from Pakistani soil”, said a senior US official who asked not to be identified.
Related: Pakistani religious party leaders urged to help revive Taliban peace talksRelated: Pakistani religious party leaders urged to help revive Taliban peace talks
The official said Rice’s visit was not in response to recent escalating tension between Pakistan and arch-rival India, who canceled planned peace talks last weekend. Nine people were killed during an exchange of fire on Friday along a border disputed by India and Pakistan.The official said Rice’s visit was not in response to recent escalating tension between Pakistan and arch-rival India, who canceled planned peace talks last weekend. Nine people were killed during an exchange of fire on Friday along a border disputed by India and Pakistan.
The US has urged Pakistan and India to get reconciliation talks back on track.The US has urged Pakistan and India to get reconciliation talks back on track.
Rice met Sharif on Sunday and was expected to meet General Raheel Sharif, the army chief of staff, later in the day.Rice met Sharif on Sunday and was expected to meet General Raheel Sharif, the army chief of staff, later in the day.
“Dr Rice expressed deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by Pakistan in the efforts to root out terrorism and extremism and the success achieved so far,” a statement from Sharif’s office said.“Dr Rice expressed deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by Pakistan in the efforts to root out terrorism and extremism and the success achieved so far,” a statement from Sharif’s office said.
Pakistan’s military has been waging a fierce offensive against the Pakistani Taliban and its radical Islamist allies in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border, since last year.Pakistan’s military has been waging a fierce offensive against the Pakistani Taliban and its radical Islamist allies in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border, since last year.
Some have questioned whether the leadership of the Haqqani network, which is allied with but separate from the Taliban, had been allowed to leave to avoid the brunt of the assault.Some have questioned whether the leadership of the Haqqani network, which is allied with but separate from the Taliban, had been allowed to leave to avoid the brunt of the assault.
The US is also keen to gain Pakistan’s help in resurrecting peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the government in Kabul.The US is also keen to gain Pakistan’s help in resurrecting peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the government in Kabul.
The tentative process toward negotiating an end to almost 14 years of war in Afghanistan was thrown into disarray last month with the revelation that longtime Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead for two years.The tentative process toward negotiating an end to almost 14 years of war in Afghanistan was thrown into disarray last month with the revelation that longtime Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead for two years.