US Secretary of Defense James Mattis arrives at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, US, November 30, 2017. AFP/Brendan Smialowski/Files

 

WASHINGTON: The US defence chief says he intends to ?work hard on finding the common ground? and ?work together? with Pakistan ? where he is due to arrive Monday for his first visit since taking over the charge of the Pentagon.

James Mattis began his crucial, five-day tour of the Middle East ? including Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait ? and Islamabad on Friday. He is set to meet Pakistan?s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Having underscored earlier that Washington wants to see progress in the Pakistan-US relations, the defence secretary will hold discussions on regional security, peace, bilateral issues, and the Afghan conflict ? something of key importance especially after US President Donald Trump announced the new regional strategy in August this year.

Speaking to reporters travelling with him in the Middle East before his trip, the American defence head said, ?We have heard from Pakistan leaders that they do not support terrorism. So I expect to see that sort of action reflected in their policies.?

Asked if he was going to press the Pakistani leaders to take more action against the insurgents, Mattis stated that the country was taking action in its own best interests and ?that?s not the way I deal with issues?.

?I believe that we work hard on finding the common ground and then we work together.?

"There's plenty of collaborative areas, right now, still in effect. There's been some areas that we have lost over the years, because of disagreements about what we need to do," he said.

"We'll discuss the South Asia strategy," the secretary noted, saying that he had already visited India and Afghanistan and it was a continued dialogue that the US had for the process to ensure peace in Afghan.

"The US remains committed to a pragmatic relationship that expands cooperation on shared interests" while reinforcing Trump's call for action against the alleged safe havens, Mattis said.

On Saturday, he had said indiscriminate action by Islamabad against the alleged terrorist safe havens inside the country are in the regional and Pakistan?s interest, US media reported.

Mattis also said Pakistan has taken significant casualties ? both innocent people and its army ? from the terrorists.

Commencing his trip to the Middle East and South Asia on Friday, he reached Egypt a day later and was due to travel to Jordan on Sunday, before arriving in Pakistan today.

Mattis' final stop will be in Kuwait Tuesday, where he will meet Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.