Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ The United States has officially recognized the strategic importance of Pakistan, designating it as a “major” non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally and expressing intentions to collaborate on regional security and defense efforts. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller made this announcement in response to inquiries during a press conference. The spokesperson said, “Generally speaking, we look forward to partnering with them on regional security and defence cooperation”.
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The declaration comes during the inaugural official visit to the US by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, who assumed office in November of the previous year. General Munir’s visit follows the two-day stay of US Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, in Pakistan. While the specific details of the COAS’s visit remain undisclosed by the military’s media wing, the State Department spokesperson conveyed Washington’s desire to engage in collaborative efforts with Pakistan in the realms of regional security and defense cooperation.
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Addressing another query, the State Department affirmed its vigilance regarding developments in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) following a controversial decision by India’s top court to uphold the revocation of the special status of the region. The US State Department spokesperson noted the close monitoring of events in Jammu and Kashmir, acknowledging the Supreme Court’s recent ruling. The statement expressed anticipation of further actions by the Indian government to fulfill its commitments, particularly the restoration of political normalcy through assembly elections, as outlined in the Supreme Court’s decision.
It is noteworthy that the visit of the COAS coincides with the Indian Supreme Court’s endorsement of the abrogation of Article 370, thereby removing the special status of IIOJK. This alignment suggests that discussions during the COAS’s visit could encompass this significant and contentious issue. The Indian Supreme Court maintained that the occupied territory is an integral part of the country. Notably, in August 2019, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally annulled the special status of the occupied valley, deploying a substantial number of troops to quell protests against this unilateral and controversial move.
