AFGHANISTAN/REX TILLERSON/STATE: “Rex Tillerson made his first trip as secretary of state to Afghanistan on Monday [10-23-17], jetting in and out of the country on a secret visit to meet top U.S. military and Afghan officials battling the Taliban and an offshoot of Islamic State.
Mr. Tillerson, speaking from Bagram Air Field north of Kabul a day ahead of a planned trip to Islamabad, emphasized that Pakistan’s cooperation in the fight against the Taliban and other extremists would be critical to success in neighboring Afghanistan.
The U.S. has made ‘some very specific requests of Pakistan’ to help undermine the Taliban’s support, Mr. Tillerson said. He said the future of the U.S.’s relationship with Pakistan would be based on whether Islamabad takes those actions Washington has requested—steps the top U.S. diplomat said would increase stability not only for Afghanistan but also for Pakistan itself…
Islamabad insists that there are no remaining havens for Taliban and other militants on its territory, and it calls for action against terrorists based in Afghanistan that attack Pakistan.
Mr. Tillerson said the U.S. would stay in Afghanistan until securing reconciliation and peace in the country, but he cautioned the Trump administration’s approach didn’t amount to an ‘unlimited’ or ‘blank check’ commitment.”
-Paul Sonne and Craig Nelson, “Tillerson Urges Action From Pakistan Against Taliban on First Afghan Trip,” The Wall Street Journal online, Oct. 23, 2017 10:46am