Pakistan Summons US Embassy Staff Over Biden-Modi Statement

Facts

• In response to a joint statement by US Pres. Joe Biden and Indian PM Narendra Modi during Modi's trip to Washington last week, Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned the US embassy's deputy chief of mission on Monday to express concern.¹
• In their statement, Biden and Modi condemned terrorism and violent extremism, specifically calling for action against Pakistan-based terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.²
• The statement, released after the two leaders held a dialogue at the White House on Friday, urged Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used as a base for militant attacks.³
• India said the US "should refrain" from statements "that may be construed as an encouragement of India's...narrative against Pakistan" while emphasizing "that counter-terrorism co-operation between Pakistan and the US had been progressing well."⁴
• While acknowledging that Pakistan has taken steps to mitigate violence, US State Dept. spokesman Matt Miller said, "We have also been consistent on the importance of Pakistan continuing to take steps to permanently dismantle all terrorist groups."¹
• The armed groups in question have conducted attacks in India, with the LeT accused of being behind the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed more than 160 people and the JeM claiming responsibility for the 2019 Pulwama attack that left 40 paramilitary soldiers dead.²

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Hindustan Times, ³WION, and ⁴Reuters.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The Diplomat. Instead of criticizing Pakistan for not doing enough, the US should recognize and thank the country for its decades of invaluable assistance in the war on terror. Since 9/11, Pakistan has helped hinder the Tehrik-e Taliban (TTP) and many other militant groups deemed a threat to the West. The War on Terror took place in Pakistan's backyard, so to label its military anything other than an ally is disrespectful and false.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Westpoint. While Pakistan deserves credit for its anti-terrorism efforts, particularly its fight against the militant TTP group, terror attacks have increased in recent years and are cause for concern. As the TTP, alongside other groups forming across the Afghan border, continue to recruit and wreak havoc in certain regions, Pakistan must ramp up its military operations to snuff out these splinter groups before they grow any more powerful.

Predictions