Don't enjoy dealing with Pakistan, US-Pak relationship drifted over the years: Tillerson
Protests in Pakistan against US
Pakistan is under pressure to "show results" with US President Donald Trump intent on implementing his new Afghanistan strategy
US Secretary of State speaking at a Town hall meeting said he didn't enjoy dealing with Pakistan, adding that the two countries had "drifted over the years".
The US Secretary of State who has repeatedly told Pakistan to rein in insurgents in public forum across the world, said: "We're engaged in very frank discussions with Pakistan over the concerns we have about their own stability and their future, and the threat they're under by allowing terrorist organisations to operate in their territory."
Pakistan is under pressure to "show results" with US President Donald Trump intent on implementing his new Afghanistan strategy which he spelled out openly in August while ordering Pakistan to stop providing "safe haven" to terrorists.
"Dealing with Pakistan ? I don't enjoy that," Tillerson said during a town hall with the State Department employees, adding,"Is it fair to ask and say do you enjoy your job as Secretary of State?".
"Pakistan is still an important and valued partner of the United States. Over the last decade, the relationship has drifted, and we've got to bring this relationship back to one of common interest," the US secretary of state said.
"We've got a great team working in that region as well. A lot of work left to do," Tillerson added.
On Afghanistan, the secretary of state sought to strike a conciliatory tone on Taliban, saying: "When the Taliban are ready to come to that negotiating table, there will be a place for them to participate in a future Afghan government."
"Our policy is to deny them the ability to have a safe haven where they can organise, recruit fighters, raise money; plan and carry out attacks against our allies, our own homeland, as they did in the past. So the entire policy in South Asia is to achieve that," Tillerson said.