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| Hagel Meets With Pakistan’s Civilian and Military Leaders | Hagel Meets With Pakistan’s Civilian and Military Leaders |
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| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel cautioned Pakistan’s prime minister on Monday that if Pakistani regional officials followed through on their threats to block NATO supply lines for the war in Afghanistan, it could jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance to the military here, Pentagon officials said. | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel cautioned Pakistan’s prime minister on Monday that if Pakistani regional officials followed through on their threats to block NATO supply lines for the war in Afghanistan, it could jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance to the military here, Pentagon officials said. |
| In response, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered assurances that his government would take action to guarantee the safe passage of American and alliance shipments through the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the officials said. | In response, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered assurances that his government would take action to guarantee the safe passage of American and alliance shipments through the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the officials said. |
| Mr. Hagel arrived in the Pakistani capital for meetings to shore up one of Washington’s most complicated alliances, meeting with civilian and military officials in an effort to improve a relationship that has often broken down over differences on how to fight terrorist groups within Pakistan. | Mr. Hagel arrived in the Pakistani capital for meetings to shore up one of Washington’s most complicated alliances, meeting with civilian and military officials in an effort to improve a relationship that has often broken down over differences on how to fight terrorist groups within Pakistan. |
| It was the first visit to Pakistan by an American defense secretary in almost four years. The American officials, who described the session with Mr. Sharif as amicable and constructive, said the talks focused equally on supply lines, counterterrorism, regional security and economic development. | It was the first visit to Pakistan by an American defense secretary in almost four years. The American officials, who described the session with Mr. Sharif as amicable and constructive, said the talks focused equally on supply lines, counterterrorism, regional security and economic development. |
| Pentagon officials said Mr. Sharif expressed his nation’s outrage over continued American drone strikes on suspected terrorist and militant targets inside Pakistan, some of which have killed civilians. | Pentagon officials said Mr. Sharif expressed his nation’s outrage over continued American drone strikes on suspected terrorist and militant targets inside Pakistan, some of which have killed civilians. |
| American and NATO officials have postponed some shipments through Torkham, out of fears over security for truck drivers and their cargo during protests against the drone strikes. Imran Khan, the former cricket star and political power broker whose PTI party governs the surrounding Pakistani province, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, has threatened to use mass protests to shut down the crossing in retaliation over the drone strikes. | American and NATO officials have postponed some shipments through Torkham, out of fears over security for truck drivers and their cargo during protests against the drone strikes. Imran Khan, the former cricket star and political power broker whose PTI party governs the surrounding Pakistani province, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, has threatened to use mass protests to shut down the crossing in retaliation over the drone strikes. |
| For his part, Mr. Hagel raised Washington’s concerns over havens inside Pakistan for militant organizations that have killed American and allied troops in Afghanistan. The defense secretary specifically cited the Haqqani network, which is believed to be abetted covertly by some Pakistani intelligence officials in an effort to assert influence in Afghanistan. | For his part, Mr. Hagel raised Washington’s concerns over havens inside Pakistan for militant organizations that have killed American and allied troops in Afghanistan. The defense secretary specifically cited the Haqqani network, which is believed to be abetted covertly by some Pakistani intelligence officials in an effort to assert influence in Afghanistan. |
| “The Haqqani network is a major concern for the United States,” another senior Pentagon official said. “The security of our forces is paramount. The Haqqanis pose a threat.” | “The Haqqani network is a major concern for the United States,” another senior Pentagon official said. “The security of our forces is paramount. The Haqqanis pose a threat.” |
| Senior Pentagon officials, speaking on diplomatic ground rules of anonymity, said there were no breakthroughs, and no concessions by either side on counterterrorism issues, except for a shared concern on the threat and agreement on the need to continue discussions. | Senior Pentagon officials, speaking on diplomatic ground rules of anonymity, said there were no breakthroughs, and no concessions by either side on counterterrorism issues, except for a shared concern on the threat and agreement on the need to continue discussions. |
| Washington froze Pakistan’s financial aid in 2011, as the countries’ relationship reached a low point with the Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan and an errant American airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani border patrol troops. The United States recently restored funding to underwrite Pakistani counterterrorism efforts, including operations against militants in the regions along the Afghan border. | Washington froze Pakistan’s financial aid in 2011, as the countries’ relationship reached a low point with the Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan and an errant American airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani border patrol troops. The United States recently restored funding to underwrite Pakistani counterterrorism efforts, including operations against militants in the regions along the Afghan border. |
| Pakistan has received more than $10 billion in Coalition Support Funds since 2001, making it the largest recipient under the program. In October, the United States disbursed $322 million for the period of July through September 2012, which was frozen when relations soured. The current request for October through December of 2012 is being processed but has not yet been paid. | |
| Pentagon officials said Mr. Hagel did not issue a threat that the Defense Department would cut off the next round of payments. Instead, the officials said, Mr. Hagel indicated that because the funds are subject to congressional oversight, inaction by the Pakistani government to guarantee safe transit for American and allied shipments could again result in a freeze. | |
| “This is obviously a critical issue for the Department of Defense and to the United States,” a Pentagon official said. “And one of the issues that is critical to the Pakistanis is the continuation of Coalition Support Funds.” | “This is obviously a critical issue for the Department of Defense and to the United States,” a Pentagon official said. “And one of the issues that is critical to the Pakistanis is the continuation of Coalition Support Funds.” |
| Rasul Baksh Rais, the director general of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, a policy research center here, reiterated the importance of Afghanistan as an issue between Pakistan and the United States. | Rasul Baksh Rais, the director general of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, a policy research center here, reiterated the importance of Afghanistan as an issue between Pakistan and the United States. |
| “The focus is on understanding which way Pakistan wants to go about Afghanistan and on regional issues, especially negotiations with the Taliban,” Mr. Rais said, “and what role Pakistan will play in 2014 and beyond in stabilizing Afghanistan and protecting international interests there.” | |
| Despite often-strained ties, the Obama administration has continued to seek Pakistani military and intelligence cooperation on counterterrorism issues, illuminating the realpolitik basis of the relationship. Pentagon officials said that strengthening military-to-military relations could act as ballast to steady a relationship with a nuclear-armed nation located in a turbulent corner of the world. | Despite often-strained ties, the Obama administration has continued to seek Pakistani military and intelligence cooperation on counterterrorism issues, illuminating the realpolitik basis of the relationship. Pentagon officials said that strengthening military-to-military relations could act as ballast to steady a relationship with a nuclear-armed nation located in a turbulent corner of the world. |
| Mr. Hagel’s visit comes amid changes at the top of Pakistan’s powerful military. The prime minister chose Lt. Gen. Raheel Sharif last month as army chief of staff, the most powerful military position in Pakistan. Because General Sharif (who is not related to the prime minister) had not been viewed as the military leadership’s preferred candidate, his selection was seen as an assertion of independence by the prime minister. | |
| Mr. Hagel met with General Sharif at the General Headquarters compound in Rawalpindi, the garrison city adjacent to the capital. | |
| The talks covered “mutual and common interests,” Mr. Hagel said in brief comments after the meeting, and underlined that the militaries of both nations were trying to strengthen a relationship that General Sharif described as “long-lasting.” | |
Salman Masood contributed reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan. | Salman Masood contributed reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan. |