The United States has offered Pakistan their “help” in dealing with the terrorist threat and the situation in Bannu.
A spokesperson has condemned what they call a “war of words” between India and Pakistan and has reaffirmed their “relationship” with both countries.
In light of the ongoing hostage situation in Bannu, the US has pledged its “support” to Pakistan in the battle against terrorism, claiming that doing so is a “shared interest” of both nations.
In Khyber-Bannu Pakhtunkhwa’s district, the situation at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station remained tight on Tuesday due to the failure of negotiations to end the standoff with militants who were holding a number of security personnel hostage.
Around 20 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members are holed up in the heavily guarded cantonment area that houses the town’s interrogation centre after capturing control of the institution. Security forces have surrounded the area.
Police and security organisations also blocked off the area and told locals to stay inside.
Ned Price, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said in a press conference that “we have been closely following reports that militants have seized control of the counterterrorism centre in Bannu” and expressed his “deepest sympathies to those injured” in response to a question about the situation.
He continued, “We call on those who carried out the attack to stop all acts of violence, to securely free those who are still being held hostage, and to halt the seizure of the counterterrorism centre.
He continued, “The Government of Pakistan is a partner when it comes to these shared difficulties, including the challenge of terrorist groups – terrorist groups within Afghanistan and terrorist groups along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
The spokeswoman said, “We stand ready to assist, whether with this developing scenario or more generally.”
It is important to note that on Monday, a highly critical report from security agencies, which said that Khyber-Counter-Terrorism Pakhtunkhwa’s Department (CTD) lacked the necessary resources to combat terrorist, painted a dire image of the anti-terrorism system in the province.
The CTD would not be able to prevent or stop a terrorist assault in the province, according to the assessment, which was delivered to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the national security review conference.
Due to a lack of resources and people at a time when insurgency and terrorism were once again rearing their ugly heads in the province, the K-P CTD was unable to combat terrorism as it had become the epicentre of issues.
Between US partners, there is a “word war”
In response to a different query regarding the recent tense discussion between India and Pakistan, Price stated that the US had maintained its alliances with both nations and emphasised that “these ties stand on their own; it is not zero-sum.”
Maintaining beneficial relationships with both our Indian and Pakistani friends is crucial, if not essential, he continued.
The spokesman added that these connections remained “multifaceted,” allowing the US to continue to work toward strengthening its “global strategic alliance” with India while still maintaining its ability to be “candid and truthful.”
In cases when there are differences of opinion or concerns, he noted, “we voice those just as we would with our Pakistani friends as well.”
It should be recalled that earlier this month, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s scathing rebuttal to India’s resurrected anti-Pakistani terrorism campaign had gained widespread attention. Modi gained the moniker “Butcher of Gujarat” in 2002, when he was the state’s chief minister, and Bilawal referred to him as such.
After S. Jaishankar, the foreign minister of India, accused Pakistan of harbouring Osama bin Laden and serving as the “epicentre of terrorism,” Bilawal stated in his statement to the UN Security Council, “Osama bin Laden is dead, but the Butcher of Gujarat remains and he is the prime minister of India. Before he became prime minister, he was not permitted to enter our nation. The RSS’s foreign minister and prime minister are shown here. How does RSS work? Hitler’s SS served as an inspiration for the RSS.
Pakistan later dismissed the statement made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding Bilawa’s comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing it as “a reflection of India’s growing frustration.”
In a statement to the media, spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch claimed that the Indian government had attempted to hide behind deception and canard in order to obscure the truth of the 2002 Gujarat tragedy.
As the Indian government harshly criticised Bilawal’s words, the rejection came. The External Affairs Ministry allegedly stated that Pakistan “lacked the qualifications to throw aspersions against India,” according to the Indian media.
