New Delhi: India’s former foreign secretary, Nirupama Rao, has said that America’s recent behaviour will help “boost Pakistan’s global image and it helps Pakistan to come in from the cold.”

Speaking in an interview with Karan Thapar for The Wire, she said this while referring to statements by General Michael Kurilla, the head of the US Army’s Central Command, to the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee that Pakistan is “a phenomenal partner in the counter-terrorism world”.

She was also referring to General Kurilla’s praise for Pakistan’s Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s role in handing over ISIS-Khorasan terrorists to America and the invitation the Field Marshal has received to attend the 250th US Army Day celebrations on Saturday .

Rao, who has also served as India's ambassador to the US, said, “Pakistan will cleverly leverage US appreciation to gain diplomatic advantage for itself”. Speaking on General Kurilla’s claim that Pakistan is “a phenomenal partner”, Rao said this was a case of “American amnesia on the whole role Pakistan has played when it comes to terror.”

She added, “That’s an unfortunate reality United States has overlooked.”

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