We need to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India, says US General Michael Kurilla

New Delhi: The Commander of the United States Central Command (Centcom), General Michael Kurilla, has described Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world”, highlighting Islamabad’s role in operations against ISIS-Khorasan.

“They are in an active counterterrorism fight right now, and they have been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world,” he said about Pakistan.

Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, General Kurilla strongly advocated for maintaining strategic ties with both India and Pakistan, asserting that the US must not view its South Asia policy through a zero-sum lens.

“We need to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can’t have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India,” he said. “We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has.”

Kurilla’s comments come against the backdrop of India’s growing diplomatic offensive with neighbouring country Pakistan.