October 24, 2017: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said America’s relationship with India is of strategic importance which is not limited to South Asia. Tillerson, who paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan yesterday, said the Trump administration was of the view that India can play a positive role in creating a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. He said they are already providing important economic activity creating jobs which is important for the future of Afghanistan.
Tillerson said, relationship with India is one that is of strategic importance not just for this specific region, but it was about a free and open Indo-Pacific region stretching all the way from Japan to India.
Speaking about his Pakistan visit beginning today, the US Secretary of State said US policy toward Islamabad will be based upon whether they take action that US feels necessary to move the process forward for both creating opportunity for reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan but also ensuring a stable future for Pakistan. He said, he will firmly tell Islamabad to stop providing safe havens to terror groups on its soil to improve bilateral ties.
Tillerson’s crucial one day visit to Islamabad comes days after he made a major policy speech on America’s growing strategic relations with India and US President Donald Trump’s move to offer a bigger say for India in war-torn Afghanistan. (AIR NEWS)
