Biden administration: US to operationalise 'Major defence partner' status for India, stronger Indo-US ties

On the question of Pakistan, Austin said, "I understand Pakistan has taken constructive steps to meet US requests in support of the Afghanistan peace process."

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23 Jan 2021, 9:14 am

As the new administration in US has started takingexecutive steps to roll back the orders taken during the regime of DonaldTrump, the defence nominee Lt. General Lloyd Austin said he would furtheroperationalize India's "Major Defence Partner" status.

Llyod Austin said, "If confirmed, my overarchingobjective for our defence relationship with India would be to continueelevating the partnership. I would further operationalise India's 'MajorDefence Partner' status and continue to build upon existing strong defencecooperation to ensure the US and Indian militaries can collaborate to addressshared interests."

"I would also seek to deepen and broaden our defencecooperation through the Quad security dialogue and other regional multilateralengagements," Austin added.

On the question of Pakistan, he said, "I understandPakistan has taken constructive steps to meet US requests in support of theAfghanistan peace process."

"Many factors inaddition to the security assistance suspension may impact Pakistan'scooperation, including Afghanistan negotiations and the dangerous escalationfollowing the Pulwama terrorist attack," he said.

On the Afghanistan issue, Austin said that Pakistan is an essential partner inany peace process in Afghanistan. "If confirmed, I will encourage aregional approach that garners support from neighbours like Pakistan, whilealso deterring regional actors, from serving as spoilers to the Afghanistanpeace process," he added.

Austin said Pakistan will play an important role in any political settlement inAfghanistan. "We also need to work with Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda andthe Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and to enhance regionalstability," Austin added.

Austin said he will press Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used forterrorist purposes. "If confirmed, I will press Pakistan to prevent itsterritory from being used as a sanctuary for militants and violent extremistorganisations."

Continuing to build relationships with Pakistan's military will provideopenings for the United States and Pakistan to cooperate on key issues, Austinsaid.

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