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As Clinton arrives, key talks on Pak-US ties begin
Hillary Clinton arrives in Pakistan on a surprise visit to resolve tensions raised by the killing of Bin Laden.
Hillary Clinton arrives in Pakistan on a surprise visit to resolve tensions raised by the killing of Bin Laden. PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS / ISLAMABAD:
Key officials in the federal capital hope to “rewrite” terms of engagement between Pakistan and the United States in anti-terror cooperation at crucial talks to be held on Friday (today) among top civilian and military authorities of the two countries in Islamabad.
Meeting amidst a recent thaw following a period of severely strained ties between the two countries, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will lead the US delegation at the negotiations with the Pakistan’s civil and military leadership.
Clinton will be assisted by senior US officials, including Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, who arrived in the capital on Thursday evening.
The arrival of Clinton was being “kept under wraps” for security reasons. But sources say she is due to land in Islamabad early Friday morning.
Diplomats termed Friday’s talks ‘highly significant,’ going as far as to state that the fate of relations between Pakistan and the US will hinge on these discussions.
“The two sides will push for reviewing and rewriting their anti-terror cooperation,” remarked a Foreign Office official, who asked to remain anonymous.
“There is no doubt that the two countries have certain misgivings; but the two sides will try to narrow down differences,” the official added.
The talks come just after a marathon session of Pakistan’s high-powered defence committee of the cabinet on Wednesday. Following the session, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had stated that his government will use ‘all appropriate means’ to target militant hideouts inside the country.
The committee’s tough stance is seen to have been taken in anticipation of difficult questions from Secretary Clinton.
Pakistan also appears to have accepted certain demands made by Washington. It granted US interrogators access to Osama bin Laden’s widows and returned the wreckage of the US stealth helicopter that was used in the Abbottabad incursion.
Reports also indicate that the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has also agreed to share data it seized from Osama’s compound with the Inter-Services Intelligence.
Despite posturing and apparent tensions in relations, the Pakistani officials expected that Secretary Clinton’s visit will help normalise ties.
The most significant step towards initiating a thaw came on on Wednesday, when US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister praised Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorists.
And just hours before leaving for Islamabad, the US Secretary of State at a news conference in Paris also struck a reconciliatory note underlining the importance of Pakistan’s to stabilise Afghanistan.
‘US must keep strategic ties with Pakistan’
Working with Pakistan is a strategic necessity for the United States, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday in Paris, even as she pressed Islamabad to act more decisively on counter-terrorism.
Praising Pakistan as “a good partner” in global efforts to fight terrorism, Clinton sought to blunt US anger at the discovery that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden lived there for years before US commandos killed him in a raid on May 2.
Clinton acknowledged that the two countries have disagreed on how hard to fight al Qaeda, Afghan Taliban fighters and other militants, but made clear she saw no choice but to work with Pakistan, saying it would overcome “these near-term challenges”.
Among those challenges is Pakistan’s decision to tell the United States to halve the number of military trainers stationed in the country, the latest sign of growing distrust.
“We do have a set of expectations that we are looking for the Pakistani government to meet but I want to underscore, in conclusion, that it is not as though they have been on the sidelines,” Clinton told a news conference in Paris.
“They have been actively engaged in their own bitter fight with these terrorist extremists.”
“There have been times when we have had disagreements. There have been times when we’ve wanted to push harder and for various reasons they have not. Those differences are real. They will continue,” Clinton said.
“But the fact of the matter is that the international community has been able to kill more terrorists on Pakistani soil than anyplace else in the world,” she added. “We could not have done that without Pakistani cooperation.” She appeared to be referring to US drone attacks and covert action against militants.
“I believe strongly it is in our national security interest to have a comprehensive, long-term partnership with the government and people of Pakistan,” Clinton said.
Some security analysts make the case that a half-hearted Pakistani partner is better than none.
“Despite this affront (bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan), the United States should recognise the importance of maintaining Pakistan as an unpalatable friend rather than an implacable adversary or, worse, seeing it tumble toward becoming a failed state,” the Washington-based Centre for a New American Security think-tank said in an analysis this month.
Among other things, the United States wants Pakistan to help promote reconciliation in Afghanistan so as to help the United States begin to withdraw US troops in July and completely hand off security responsibility to Afghans in 2014.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM WIRES
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2011.
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Everybody is happy!!! Unconditional compliane I guess.Recommend
Leave us alone. Let Pakistan clear the mess created by US invasion of Afghanistan. First leave this region as soon as possible.Recommend
If Hillary is happy with the partnership why is there a demand to do more? Is this a game of dumb charades going on ? Recommend
Pakistan is a good partner but what about yourself I mean AmericaRecommend
I’m proud of US-Pakistan friendship.Recommend
Leave us alone and let us decided our problems,
then you would see we overcome all issues successfully.Recommend
Miss Clinton, please rectify your country’s mistakes that helped created this mess in Pakistan. You were brave to accept American mistakes to leave Pakistan in past, but this is not enough, now play you part in cleaning this huge mess.Recommend
Sorry, we are not looking for a partnership with the US, neither we care about what you expectations are… You are not welcome in Pakistan, period.Recommend
wht about US as a friend………….Recommend
Dear Hilary. Could you please come out in the open and say this in front of the Western Media….specifically BBC and CNN…since CNN and BBC never tell us this side of the story. Would also appreciate it if they could put this as a headline…for once…Thank you !Recommend
Toommyy…Tommy… Tommy?Recommend
I guess for being a good partner, the people are rewarded with drone strikes and our political/military establishment get some dollars from you!Recommend
Look what America did in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please Please dont let them in, they will humiliate, destroy and collapse our country and its institutions. Let them leave this region as soon as possible.Recommend
If indeed Pakistan has been a good friend then by all means return the gesture by removing Pakistan as an ally in “war on terror” and STOP giving Pakistan aid. Pakistan and Pakistani’s would love to be US’s friend based on mutual respect.Recommend
An ordinary Pakistani’s set of expectations from the US Government:
Don’t topple/help topple the democratic governments
Don’t fund militancy, as you did in the past while fighting against the USSR.
Don’t support military dictators’ government in Pakistan
Don’t meddle in our internal affairs
Don’t even think of taking our nukes. Any action to that effect may trigger brigades of suicide bombers and saboteurs who would haunt you for the rest of your country’s life
Don’t shy away from the Kashmir dispute just because you have stronger business ties with India. Tyranny should be condemned everywhere, even in Balochistan!
Recommend
Pakistan Justice Forum (PJF) has urged the Pakistani police to arrest US War Criminal Hillary Clinton during her next 2011 visit to Pakistan because Hillary has murdered millions of innocent Pakistanis, Afghans, Iraqis, Libyans, Arabs, Muslims and other humans in the US illegal War of Terror. The PJF has pointed out: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pak advocates must prosecute Hillary in Pak courts of law for the barbarous Clinton crimes against humanity (genocide, torture and war crimes).Recommend
Supplier of our bread and butter must be welcomed with open arms and broad smile. Your words of wisdom are still in the air ” If you don’t want aid say no, we are not forcing you to take”. Recommend
Pakistan Justice Forum (PJF) has urged the Pakistani police to arrest US War Criminal Hillary Clinton during her current visit to Pakistan because Hillary has murdered millions of innocent Pakistanis, Afghans, Iraqis, Libyans, Arabs, Muslims and other humans in the US illegal War of Terror. The PJF has pointed out: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pak advocates must prosecute Hillary in Pak courts of law for the barbarous Clinton crimes against humanity (genocide, torture and war crimes).Recommend
America is none’s friends. It serves only its own interests. It is too smart for pakistan and its leadership. The continuation of deep rooted relationship with America is not in Pak’s interests. It does not imply that Pakistan should break its entire relationship with America.The conflicting statements from Washington about Pakistan is a part of well crafted policy to build pressures and prevent Pakistan to take decisions in its best interests.But there is no choice for Pakistan to revisit this unhealthy relationship apart from revisiting its approach to other national and international issues, lest it shall be too late for it to make amends.Pakistan is no longer a sovereign state in its true sense.It has to regain lost ground.Recommend
Pakistanis have a lot of goodwill for the Americans, a few words of generosity are enough to melt them down.Having said that,the Americans must realize that everyone has self respect and that has to be respected.
If you are an ally that doesnt mean that we have sold off our National Interests. We welcome Ms. Hillary Clinton and demand that Pakistan be treated with respect and our sacrifices recognised, that be so,every thing can turn up positive.Recommend
It is Zardari specific foreign,internal,economic policies which have let us down.He never had any business to delve in these areas which he did to ruin to suit his vested interests.Hillary should not meet him (excepting courtesy call) to set things on balanced course in future.Recommend
Don’t want to be rude but Mrs Clinton would appreciate if you get out of our country. We dont need you! Thanks.Recommend
It’s a great time to test Paksitan’s diplomacy once again. The government and especially the army should be very clear about a policy that defends Pakistan’s interests. Pakistani demands has to be stressed this times rather than requested. We need to tame our so-called ally in a systematic way. Better Rehman Malik is kept away in the whole process :-)Recommend
Ms Clinton is the most intelligent politician in the US administration. She has openly acknowledged the West’s role in supporting the very criminals they are now fighting in Afghanistan. She forcefully explained to Congress how the West supported these militants to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan to effectively end the Cold War. She also knows that the West left behind these criminals and the current mess we face in Pakistan when the world’s attention turned elsewhere. I believe she means well for Pakistan to get back on stable footing. We should give her every opportunity to work with Pakistan in a genuine partnership.Recommend
and pied piper is here yet again and all the children will follow with their heads downRecommend
Please dont give aid to us..Recommend
She like mangoes…she is coming to eat mangoes for sure…Recommend
Now the Generals will stand in a slightly bent position, folded hands, back in a proper position & get ready for easy entry of commands of Her Highness Clinton.
Generals say “Ji Ha” & Militants say “Ji Had” & Common Man say “Ji, kahan jaai”.
Pakistan jhuk gayi ye generals/amrika/jihadiyon khel maRecommend
Entire top leadership of Pakistan is bending backwards to please their MASTERS “USA”Recommend
@dextor:
Nice one Dextor, she will not eat mangoes rather she will devour them like an ever hungry American , coz Americans are that hungrier & greedier nation of the world whose bellies will never say now we are brimming , they will keep on eroding the world resources endlessly as their hungers are endless & clueless like them , like American buggers only .
Imagine Hillary dinning in an exotically decorated President house dinning room accompanied by a host of her entourage / gang fellas , all seated around a emperor like dinning table, & being served & catered to by our Zardari , Gilani, Nawaz Sharif , Shahbaz Sharif , Asfandyar Wali , Chaudry Nisar , Chaudry Pervaiz Ilahi , Chaudry Shujaat, Naveed Qamar , Babar Awan etc all decked up in nice , crisp & starched British RAJ like WAITER uniforms & waiting greedily for the service tips & pieces of mangoes scooped to them like being tossed to hungry dogs.
this is what Pakistani leaders are .
Najib Khan Recommend
first they break trust know they come again to rebuilt the trust….:-) Recommend
In US-Pakistan relations stability means obedience: Chomsky said the moment Pakistan stopped cowing down to the US, the talks of nuclear threat and jihadi movements would start making headlines in the US media.
That is where we stand today. USA has made the people of Pakistan irrelevant by promoting relationship through dictators and imposed rulers. The will of the people shown through parliament remains meaningless. Today the Question is whether we wants Obama’s Pakistan or Osama Pakistan. The aspiration of Pakistanis is reflected nowhere. As a matter of fact, Pakistanis are fed up with both.
Pakistan will never get peace till last Afghan Refugees is pushed out from here. Pakistan will never get peace till Arabs continue funding Jihad here. Pakistan will never get peace till the time Pakistan’s land is used by non state actors and paid Jihadists. Pakistan will never get peace till Arab and Persian fight their war here. Pakistan will not get peace till USA greed for more is satiated.
Pakistan is in the eye of storm. We Pakistanis have to decide to stand for our freedom and values.
. Recommend
Why the hell the this Hillary thinks we are her servants.
Such a surprise visit… and meeting with president and PM. What the hell. She is a minister and a minister should meet him. A one to one talk she is not the level of a president.Recommend
You are not welcome in Pakistan, Hiilary!Recommend
@Najib Khan:
If you are so upset with the treatment given to the Secretary by your leaders, why do not the people change these leaders. These leaders represent you. Think why your people are not capable enough to change the leaders they despise.Simple! The Pakistani society accepts these sort of civilian and military leaders, leaders who appease either America or China or Saudi Arabia. Recommend
well, what these comments value when some of our state departments are shaking hand with america for their own sake and sacrificing country’s sovereignty? the dog is involved with the thieves. Recommend
US double game and hypocrisy needs to end. Fed by CFR they dont even care about their own people. Just look at how many people are on food stamps in USA, how the rich are getting richer and poor poorest.Recommend
What Clinton and the U.S have to realise that the people and the government in Pakistan are two different entities and not on the same page.
Possibly they already know this and are exploiting this to their advantage and our distress. Recommend
oh these americansss again.. get ‘em outta here!!!Recommend
@SYED ADEEB:
Good Joke buddy..Ha ha..Recommend
@Cherish Raj:
Mr Raj , these so called democratic Govts in Pak are all fake, & installed & dumped ones they have been imposed on us .
Please read the Wiki Leaks they say it all, these current crooks in power made their way into the Govt through the American influence & support , through rigged , bogus & fake voting , if u start watching our TV channels u would get to know that it has been proved by all & sundry & the related quarters & agencies that 40 % of the votes that were cast in the previous general elections were all bogus . That’s how these buggers have gained the power.
Democracy to become a success has some pre requisites & the most important of them is literacy , & our masses are not educated & sensible enough to judge wrong & right , on the eve of election they get paid by the rogues & thus voters get sold & these cheaters make their way into the parliament where after getting their seats they want to recover the money invested during election days & would roll over all the rules , regulations , norms , decencies & laws to fill their pockets & would even serve as the WAITERS to their visiting White Masters.
so this is ground reality & must have given u some kind of insight , or else come to Pakistan be my guest & I will tell u at lengths about the plagues effecting our social & economical fabric , this needs a lengthy discussion on one on one basis , cant be discussed on this short forum.
regards,
NK Recommend
I hope Pakistan has a handle on the coup there,Recommend
The only thing that i consider, motivates US / UK to recognise Pakistan
s importance is " The shift towards Russian nChina along with the trust of GCC ” thats why they came to their knees , and announced it poblically in London Recommend