Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has warned that President Donald Trump is prepared to take whatever actions are necessary if Washington’s efforts fail to work with Pakistan in Afghanistan. Relations and ties between Islamabad and Washington have deteriorated since President Trump announced the new US strategy for South Asia and strongly criticized Pakistan for sheltering the terrorist groups. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States General Joseph Dunford has confirmed that the military intelligence of Pakistan’s military, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), has connections with the terror group. However, Islamabad has repeatedly rejected the allegations although in some stances the country’s senior officials have admitted the presence of some of the notorious terrorist networks and leaders, including Haqqani network.
