U.S. team in Islamabad tomorrow to get Pak perspective on Afghanistan, S.Asia

Islamabad [Pakistan], Aug.1 (ANI): A United States delegation, led by Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Alice Wells, will interact with their Pakistani counterparts here on Wednesday to get Islamabad's perspective on developments in Afghanistan in particular and South Asia overall. According to the Express Tribune,Wednesday's visit could contribute to a firming up of the Trump Administration's strategy for the region in the days to come. With Pakistan in a state of political transition after the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif as prime minister over concealing assets last Friday, the Express Tribune is reporting that the talks will take place between the American delegation and Pakistan's military authorities. The delegation will also visit New Delhi and Kabul later in the week. It maybe recalled that last month, the Pentagon had announced that it would not be releasing USD 50 million in military reimbursements to Pakistan after Defense Secretary James Mattis refused to certify that Islamabad had taken sufficient action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network. American military officials, however, said that despite the blocking of funds, they still do see Pakistan as an important cog in the defence policy wheel when it comes to Afghanistan. (ANI)