Pakistan Pleads To US For ‘Sophisticated’ Weapons, Claims It Would Be Crucial To Fight Terror

Pakistan envoy to the US Masood Khan said that his country needs sophisticated small arms and other modern equipment to ensure that their counter-terrorism operation named Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is a success, Pakistani news outlet GeoNews said in a report.

Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, the Pakistani government says, is an operation that it claims would eliminate terrorism from the country. Its government approved the fresh operation this week.

“Pakistan has launched Azm-e-Istehkam, to oppose and dismantle terrorist networks. For that, we need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment,” Khan was quoted as saying by the news outlet. The comments were made during an event organised by Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute in partnership with the International Academy of Letters USA in Washington, DC.

The event, titled ‘Looking Back, Looking Forward: Assessing the US-Pakistan Relationship’, also saw the envoy urging his host country to continue to invest in the ‘reset’ of Pakistan-US relationship.

He also said that Islamabad and Washington should maintain strong security links and that both parties should enhance intelligence cooperation between them. He also urged the resumption of sales of advanced military platforms to Pakistan. He also urged the US to sustain Pakistan’s US-origin defence equipment

“This is crucial for regional security and opposing the rising tide of terrorism that also threatens the interests of the US and its allies. Secondly, one or two issues should not hold the entire relationship hostage. It equals trust building,” he said.

He also urged that the US should consider making Pakistan a partner for a diplomatic comeback in Kabul if that is part of the plan and work with Pakistan in an inclusive setting on counterterrorism efforts and addressing the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Last year, Pakistan reportedly entered into a $364 million arms sales agreement with two private US companies. These weapons were allegedly sent to Ukraine, which is engaged in a war with neighbour Russia.

This deal, according to the Intercept, helped to facilitate a controversial bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

The Biden administration in 2022 also approved a $450 million F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan.