The United States’ (US) Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, fanned the flames of tensions with India after referring to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) as “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” (AJK), in an open rejection of the terminology India uses to highlight Pakistan’s illegal occupation of the region.
According to the US embassy’s release, the American official met with the POK Prime Minister Tanveer Ilyas and other prominent political and economic leaders during a visit to the region from 2-4 October.
According to Urdu Point, Ilyas presented Blome with a proposal to enhance regional development via a special economic zone, a dry port, investment in tourism, and the hydroelectric sector in POK.
Furthermore, Ilyas discussed the worsening human rights violations by the Indian government in Jammu and Kashmir and called on the US to help resolve the issue.
Blome also visited the Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Dak Bungalow, the Red Fort, and the Jalalabad Garden. The statement by the US embassy in Islamabad celebrated the sites as “symbols of cultural and historical richness of Pakistan.”
“For many years, the United States has been committed to strengthening educational opportunities for residents of AJK, recognizing that a good education is key to individuals’ and communities’ prosperity and stability” -DB #AmbBlome 2/2 pic.twitter.com/c85Y14Ey7R
— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) October 5, 2022
He also visited the Lincoln Corner centre in Muzaffarabad, which allows students and the local community to access a “multi-media resource centre to listen to expert speakers, take part in STEM activities, practice English-language skills, and learn about the [US].”
In addition, the American envoy visited other US-funded projects in the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including a building that houses laboratories, classrooms, and energy-efficient buildings.
Furthermore, he participated in a ceremony to commemorate the 2005 earthquake and highlighted the US government’s continued support for the people of Pakistan through aid, relief, and rehabilitation assistance. To this end, he spoke of the $66 million in aid the US government has provided Pakistan to mitigate the impact of this year’s floods, which killed over 1,500 people.
Blome also met with officials from the Pakistani Army’s 12th Infantry Division.
Meanwhile, coinciding with Blome’s trip, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the US on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin.
According to the Pentagon, the pair “focussed on opportunities to address key mutual defence interests” and celebrated the 75 anniversary of US-Pakistan ties.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of relations between the U.S. and 🇵🇰 Pakistan. It was my pleasure to host Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, to the Pentagon where we discussed our long-standing defense partnership and areas of mutual interest. pic.twitter.com/ptiZDiqc8I
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 5, 2022
The meetings were held amid simmering tensions between India and the US over the American government’s ties with Pakistan.
The Indian government has in particular expressed discontent with the US’ decision to release a $450 million sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.
The US insists that the package does “not include any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions” and would not “alter the basic military balance in the region.”
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, for instance, has said the US would only provide “spare parts and maintenance” for equipment that is over 40 years old, stressing that the deal is “a sale” and “not assistance.”
Ambassador Blome hosted a reception to meet with members of the Muzaffarabad chapter of @PakUSAlumni, the world’s largest U.S. alumni program. There are 950 #PUAN members in AJK. #PakUSat75 1/2 pic.twitter.com/z6OrMIx5Kn
— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) October 4, 2022
Likewise, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price has said the US is merely providing “life cycle maintenance and sustainment packages for U.S.-origin platforms” as it does with other defence equipment it sells.
However, India is unconvinced that Pakistan will use the fighter jets for counterterrorism as the US claims, with Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar saying that Washington is “not fooling anybody,” given the capacity and the use of the aircraft against India in the past.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other high-ranking India have also raised “strong objections” to the deal.
Ties between India and the US have also been tense over India’s continued relationship with Russia. The US has over the past few months expressed discontent with India’s “shaky” response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, referring to its repeated abstentions in resolutions condemning Russia in the United Nations (UN) and its decision to continue to purchase discounted Russian oil.
However, while the US has repeatedly warned of “significant consequences” of India’s “strategic alignment” with Russia, it has clarified that New Delhi would not be subject to sanctions for purchasing Russian oil.
Moreover, it has also relaxed its position on India’s voting pattern in the UN. Last week, after India abstained from a vote in the UNSC to condemn Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian territories, the US’ permanent representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, assured that India’s decision would not harm bilateral ties.
Along the same lines, Indian EAM Jaishankar has noted that despite their differences, he is very “bullish” about ties with the US.