Obama calls Zardari: 'NATO airstrike not deliberate'
In a press release issued by the White House, President Obama "made clear that this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States’ strong commitment to a full investigation."
The press release further stated that the two leaders "reaffirmed their commitment to the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship, which is critical to the security of both nations, and they agreed to stay in close touch."
Earlier US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday evening – a call during which the premier is said to have declined a request to attend the conference on the Afghan endgame, which is to start on Monday.
According to the prime minister’s office, Gilani had made it clear to the US that his government was ‘bound to follow’ the parliamentary committee’s decision regarding the conference.
“[Secretary Clinton] said that the attack was not intentional and that we must wait for the outcome of the investigation,” the statement said.
(Read: PM unmoved by Hillary’s call)
Earlier in November a Nato strike on a checkpost in Mohmand agency on the Afghan border had killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. In retaliation for the raid, Islamabad had blocked Nato convoys from crossing into Afghanistan, ordered a review of its alliance with the US and demanded that the US leave Shamsi airbase used for drone flights within 15 days.
(Read: US prepares to vacate Shamsi airbase)
COMMENTS (24)
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Americans owe too many apologies. Japan, Vietnam, Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq to name a few. Emotional Americans need to remember that there was no Pakistani involved in 911. If you had acted wisely and squeezed Talibans to give up Bin Laden then you would not be confronting Pakistanis (add one more to apology list) now. You obviously know nothing about political dynamics of Afghanistan, which in fairness is too much to ask from a group of people who can't always correctly point to Australia on the map.
And on nukes safety you obviously don't remember US air force forgetting nuclear arsenal on an airport by mistake. Speaks highly of the strength of your processes. Your economy has no signs of a recovery, Europe is in far worse shape, Of course you don't realize how shallow your warnings sound now. There was a time when we used to get glued to tv sets when say President Clinton was giving a speech. Now we see Obama and get on with whatever we are doing.
You want an apology, so do we!, when are you pakistanis going to wake up. Pakistan has replaced iran as the leading top supporter of terrorism in the world. Apologies, get real, have you apolgized for each and every suicide bomber to come from pakistan, Do you apogize for treating soverigne afghanistan as a piece of your property. You all complain about ray davis, get a clue, he was being robed by two thieves, and he defended him self, they died, as criminals. Fact is pakistan is the source of its own problems, and as i read here daily, most of you expect others to solve your problems for you, What a total begger nation. I warn you now, and head my words, as i speak for the majority sentimint of america, Get your act together, start making a postive contribution or face annialation, The world is tired of your stunted mentality and our patience is wearing out, shape up or you will face more and even greater losses. Take this warning as it is, pakistan is falling apart, many nations have problems of their own true, but the majority of our problems are new and in time will be worked out, while pakistan has been on a downward slide for several decades now. It should be an equal with India, but is closer to resembleing somthing like syria. One Question I have for you, How can you be sure your nuclear weapons are secure, Because if you answer is the army and government says so, I feel really sorry for you. Odds are good, Your nuclear weapons are already in american possesion. And you would never know.
Obama 2013...!! for the President of Pakistan!! why dont we have leaders like that!
Yes fellow Pakistanis, beat your chests. What good has that done? The fact of the matter is the inquiry is still unresolved and Pakistan is refusing to cooperate in the inquiry. Why? Why not know the truth? The reason is that we don't want to know the truth. In Pakistan we live on lies. The same way we believe we won all 4 wars against India, that OBL wasn't in Abbottabad, that we are the world's most perfect nation, we want to believe that our Armed Forces did nothing wrong and were just sitting ducks.
The truth is much murkier but the Deep State doesn't want us to know the truth that our troops were likely supporting the Taliban.
No apology means it wasn't completely one sided. Both the US and your government are most likely well aware of the backlash. The US is always being discreet for Pakistan. Just like projects intentionally not be labeled of US origin due to knowing the negative side effects to pointing it out. I hope he never does apologize. If you want an apology, get it from your own military for never doing their job yet somehow managing hero status for blinking. How about an apology for harboring OBL? Do you have any idea how many missions and lives lost during those missions would not have occurred while looking over the years? You're passive aggressive murderers. At least the US owns up to its mistakes. Give me one moment in the history of Pakistan where you were attacked without someone in your very own government/security agencies having some form of responsibility for it.
Funny some of the comments say - why has Obama called after 9 days? Friends - Obama has better things to do - like the American recession, managing the Euro crisis, Job losses at home, managing trade issues with China, 2012 Presidential campaign and managing his new Asian alliances. Once he finds time, he'll deal with failing terrorist-infested nations....
@Anti-Truth
Probably he did. It does not get reported for obvious reason. :-)
The actual conversation:
Obama: "What's up Asif.. Seems like your time has come. I ain't apologizing but if you keep doing what I tell you, I'll try to get you outta Pakistan when the public breaks down your doors in a few months."
Asif: "Ok sir. Thank you."
Obama's reaction TOO LATE & TOO LITTLE TO REPAIR !
Well its too late, i wonder may be Mr. Z promised him that now Pakistan would represent Boon Conference...What about all those DCC and Parliament Committee resolutions..then we would be force to say Parliament is dumb
why Obamba is still not apologetic?either we have sold us so cheap or they have declared war.
Wrong number ... better call Dr. Pervez Keyani and sort out your problem
it seems they are purposefully avoiding apology and are just condoling the deaths of soldiers which they claim were not intentional........now Pakistani public opinion is being built on no apology offered by US....after building up this as main grievance...one day we will find that US formally offers 'apology' and whole country and media is excited that as if they have won a great was...a fabulous victory achieved....
He will promise more money and NATO supplies will resume shortly
Whether the killing of 24 army soldiers were deliberate or not, the Pakistani knows one thing that while our soldiers were at the Mohamand Agency check post to protect the US-Pakistan interest, they were brutally killed by US soldiers flying in the US helicopters.
The American soldiers are going to celebrate Christmas and the New Year and have left the families of Pakistani soldiers to mourn their deaths.
Hillary Clinton’s call followed by Barack Obama’s call is a request to the Prime Minister and the President so that Pakistan should participate in the Bonn Conference.
Once we have boycotted Bonn Conference it means that we have boycotted the conference at least for this time.
Pakistan has no interest with the Afghanistan and its affairs. We are not responsible for the wrong doing of US Administration in Afghanistan.
We would request to US Administration to leave Pakistan alone for the time being to mourn the deaths of our soldiers.
Meanwhile, our Foreign Office will draw a strategy as how to maintain bilateral relation with US and up to what extent.
Its too early 'Mr Peace'. Call next year at the death anniversary of these 26 martyred soldiers whose life has no value but life your terrorist Reymond Davis is more valuable than whole world.
The Americans keep asking ' Why do others hate us so much ? '. Are we supposed to believe that they do not know the answer.
Strike (from apaches) was not deliberate (but from drones.. absolutey...!!!)
Remember Obama also lied that Raymond Davis has got diplomatic immunity. Why we beleive now?
Now after 9 days he is saying that Nato Airstrike not delibrate Why took you so many days to think 3 words???? I wonder if they were American ARMY MEN then what would have happened??? Its a shame.
Don't make it a justification to go to Bonn. Boycott Bonn decision is final and irrevocable.
Finally Mr.Obama u have put ur ego aside... We are still waiting for apology...