The US needs to have a relationship with both India and Pakistan because of the Pakistani military’s role in countering the threat from Islamic State-Khorasan Province, a top American general has said in remarks that are unlikely to go down well in New Delhi.
The US Central Command chief, Gen Michael Kurilla, described Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in counter-terrorism during a hearing by the House Armed Services Committee.
His remarks come at a time when India has intensified its efforts to highlight Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in April.
Indian officials, including external affairs minister S Jaishankar, have insisted that the victims of terrorism and perpetrators of terrorist assaults such as the one at Pahalgam cannot be treated at par. The Indian side has also been rankled by several countries hyphenating India and Pakistan during last month’s military clashes.
During his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Kurilla, who is set to retire this summer, highlighted the role of the Pakistani military and army chief Asim Munir in combating ISIS-Khorasan, another name for IS-KP.
