…As Pakistan suspends military and intelligence cooperation with United States***
Russia has said that a recent series of drone attacks on its military bases in Syriawould have required assistance from a country possessing satellite navigation technology – a statement that appeared to be aimed at the United States.
Russia’s defense ministry said its forces repelled a series of drone attacks on Saturday on the Hemeimeem air base and a naval facility in Tartus, adding that out of the 13 drones involved, seven were shot down and six were forced to land without inflicting any damage.
Without blaming any specific country, the ministry said data for the attacks could only have been obtained “from one of the countries that possesses knowhow in satellite navigation”.
In Tuesday’s statement, it noted a “strange coincidence” of a US militaryintelligence plane flying over the Mediterranean near the two Russian bases at the moment of the attack.
The Pentagon denied any involvement. “Any suggestion that US or coalition forces played a role in an attack on a Russian base is without any basis in fact and is utterly irresponsible,” said Marine Maj Adrian Rankine-Galloway, a Pentagon spokesman.
The US and Russia support opposing sides of the Syrian civil war.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin declared victory in Syria last month and ordered a partial troops pullout, and the Kremlin said late on Monday that the number of Russian troops left in Syria is sufficient to fend off any attacks by militants.
Asked on Tuesday whether the withdrawal could have been premature in view of the drone attack, Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the Russian forces in Syria have “all the necessary means” to counter any challenge.
Syria’s President Bashar Assad has recovered major territory from rebels in Syria in the past two years, largely because of Russia’s military support. His forces are currently battling rebels on two fronts, in the north-western Idlib province and in the eastern suburbs of Damascus.
In the meantime, spiralling relations with the United States have hit a new low with Pakistan’s Defense Minister stating that his country has stopped military and intelligence cooperation with its long-term ally in the fight against terrorism.
Confirming that military and intelligence cooperation has been suspended, Khurram Dastgir Khan was quoted by Pakistani newspaper Dawn as saying that the US is engaging Pakistan in a blame game rather than assisting in the battle on terror. “Pakistan does not want to put a price on its sacrifices but wants them to be recognised,” he said on Tuesday.
Khan also said that the US is staring at defeat in Afghanistan and therefore, is looking to make Pakistan a scapegoat for all of its failures here. The two countries have previously worked closely in a bid to contain terror emanating from Afghan soil.
While the US embassy in Islamabad has not confirmed if cooperation in the said areas has indeed been halted, souring relations between the two countries indeed point towards a firm possibility.
Pakistan and US officials have engaged in a war of words with each other – a simmering fire set ablaze by US President’s first tweet of 2018.
The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
The US has charged Pakistan of not doing enough against home-grow terror outfits – especially the Haqqani Network. Officials in Washington have even warned that the US is capable of unilaterally taking action if Pakistan does not step up.
Military aid to Pakistan has also been suspended. Earlier this week, Pentagon said US’ expectations from Pakistan have already been communicated. “Taliban and Haqqani leadership and attack planners should no longer be able to find safe haven or conduct operations from Pakistani soil,” said spokesperson Colonel Rob Manning.
Guardian UK with additional report from Zee
