ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Ambassador to the United States, Sherry Rehman has said that Pakistan is looking at a 'positive' conversation about reopening of Nato supply routes but it will be pre-mature to say when the trucks will resume supply.
"Pakistan is still demanding US President Barrack Obama’s apology over Pakistani soldiers death in US air strikes," she told CNN in an interview.
About crossing over of four trucks into Afghanistan, she said,"we are allowing diplomatic cargo, and as far as I know, trucks, cargo and lorries are suspended, ban on some humanitarian supply may have lifted but no serious materials have been crossing over and all have been suspended for six months."
On the eve of the Chicago summit, Ambassador Rehman spelled out Islamabad's position on various issues including the November 26,2011, cross-border drone strikes, reopening of Nato supply routes, Pak-US ties after Salala incident, the May 2 incident and Haqqani network issues.
About the Chicago summit, she said this is a big summit where all leaders especially Pakistan and Afghanistan will be conferring to bring stability and peace to the region. She added that Pakistan had a role in the region and the alliance's summit presented an opportunity to redefine it.
"We have joint goals that can converge, but you know that the relationship is in a bad place for over six months," she pointed out.
About the formal apology from the US over November 26 Nato air strikes, the ambassador said this issue is not going off the table -- 24 coffins draped in our national flag, killed at the hands of not an enemy, but a friend has caused national furor in Pakistan.
She said a joint sitting of the Parliament has asked for a formal apology from the US and Pakistani people seek restriction over air strikes’ deaths.
“This unconditional invitation to Pakistan is a very positive breakthrough. We don't want interference in Afghanistan, but want to support peaceful security transition, which can also bring stability to the region," the envoy said.
On the issue of Osama bin Laden, Sherry Rehman said that there is an Abbottabad Commission that is investigating it. "No body wanted to see OBL in Pakistan, we have helped hunt down al Qaeda," she said.
About the Haqqani network, she said, it has become a catch word to judge the Pak-US relationship, however, she cautioned that the entire relationship could not be predicated on this spin. She pointed out that the Pak-Afghan border is a porous border and it needs policing on both sides to stop the free movement of terrorists across it.
COMMENTS (26)
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@Historian: Pakistan is the one that needs the money. All negotiations are centered on how much US will pay per truck. US used to pay 250 dollars per truck and Pakistan now wants 5000 dollars per truck or 20 times - which US and NATO have refused.
Once the dollar amount is settled, the routes will be opened. Do not hold your breath for an apology.
No doubt it was a tragic incident when the 24 soldiers were killed last November. It was an accident and the top brass in the U.S. armed forces had expressed their grief an regrets. But it didn't seem to be enough! Pakistan is demanding for a formal apology. Every day innocent people fall victims to crime and terror attacks in Pakistan and die. The government doesn't capitalise on their death to press for political gains like in this case. Is it fair that the lives of these 24 soldiers were worth more.
Pakistan should maintain blockade of supplies bcz of a solid reason that US killed our soldiers. So, there is no complexity, US will have to apologize. After apology, there should be defined set of rules of Pakistan cooperation with US. These are legitimate demands of Pakistan. And from inside the country, people of Pakistan are right in highlighting these issues and they want their voted government to follow their demands.
Key phrase here is: Looking fo r= Tresure hunt
@Aamir: 'Afghanistan will be the 2nd Vietnam for Americans, you just wait and watch'. Aamir we are all waiting.
@Excuse me?: Are you suggesting that his many wives were on holiday in Pakistan? Can you also explain how some 4 children were born to his many wives and 2 of them in Pakistani hospitals? Some guy must've been on a roll!
@Excuse me?:"Has anyone given concrete, solid proof that OBL was in Pakistan? @critical thinker"
Oh..so his wives and all his children were just visiting Pakistan to enjoy the scenery and beautiful weather?
@Excuse me?: "Has anyone given concrete, solid proof that OBL was in Pakistan? @critical thinker: " So you mean that Aiman Zwahiri, who is still in Pakistan (Hillary Clinton does not lie. She should know because a drone has been prepared for him.) usurped the "Amir"-ship of Al-Qaeda? That would be possible only if he did it Aurangzeb-style - cut the jugular of his leader. Either way, we had a very dead Sheikh way back when!
out come of regime in 'may fair in chicago'' will there be one - its all holidaying free of cost decision made by masters 'us' accepted........
@Excuse me?:
It's the air, I suppose - why does everything look so conspiratorial from inside Pakistan borders?
Why is it so difficult for President Obamma to apologize? Express regrett for an action that went wrong;is there any regrett?Our ambassador rightly says that it is the death of our soldiers at the hands of our friends and not enemies that has caused immense pain to the people of Pakistan;but are we friends?or allies?or clients?or subordinate partners?or victims?or benificiaries?or distrusted benificaries?or friends of their enemies?or dishonest assistant State with duality of purpose. For President Obamma to apologize or us to manage an opolgy is only a symbolic gesture. Only a temporary cure for an eternal sickness with which US-Pakistan relationship suffers. The real cause of sickness is the inability of both the States to correctly define our existing and proposed longterm relationship. It is not friendship. It can be if US stops acting like an unstoppable power that can do as it likes in/outside and about Pakistan and thinks it can not only get away with it but can further coerce and threaten Pakistan with what more can follow. This is not friendship;This is intimidation and forced submission. The policy of imposing its will on a State it considers has little alternatives is not a policy that will ever translate into friendship.As far as Pakistan is concerned;weak must endure as it must but for how long?US may be able to again impose its will on the Pakistani government but can it afford to have a freindly government and 'unfriendly people'. Today the biggest question on the minds of the people of Pakistan is 'is US a friend?' Why people ask it is no mystery?
@critical thinker: Bullz-eye critical thinker. You have clearly laid out the facts threadbare. Salams
"Political borders of a nation state means there’s a responsibility for what goes on within those borders. Man up to your responsibilities and join the rest of the world – we’re patiently waiting."
Well said. When a state sponsors or allows terrorists on its soil who attack neighboring countries, the nation state loses its claim of sovereignty and the global community and neighbors have the right to do what is necessary to defend themselves. That is the recognized international law.
@excuse me Reckon your Abbotaba Commission interviewed the widows to find out what happened on May2
@critical thinker
You are a perfect example of an arrogant and biased American. Why should we get over the apology issue, our 24 soldiers were killed by your insane soldiers, don't care how much it will cost us but we will not budge on apology issue. Good thing that Pak rebuffed offer for joint investigation because we don't believe in American investigation. Who said Pakistan was harboring OBL. till today the US government has not provided any concrete evidence to prove that OBL was living in Pakistan and it was him who got killed (FYI, before May raid OBL has been killed almost five times, acknowledged by the US Gov't.....LOL) during May raid.....remember how your government attacked Iraq on false pretext, shame on people like you who preach others for human rights but at home the very same human rights are being disrespected everyday, we all know that Americans are selfish and can't be trusted any more. Inshah ALLAH, Afghanistan will be the 2nd Vietnam for Americans, you just wait and watch.
@Excuse me?:
How did Osama's family get into the compound? And, if that wasn't true wouldn't Osama's wife have squealed?
@Excuse me?: Has anyone given concrete, solid proof that OBL was in Pakistan? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Well I think the discovery of his extended family and their statements as eye witnesses does provide proof.
@ excuse me ? Al qaeda ( which is better placed than you to have knowledge of whether or not Osama is dead) has acknowledged he is dead, Taliban has acknowledged Osama is dead, Mullahs and extremist lawyers attended funeral prayers for him. What more do you need? These irrational conspiracy theories and delusional thinking gets tiresome after a while.
@excuse me: conspiracy theories will get you no further than denial - not far on either account. stop trading short-lived feel good tactics, and start doing the hard work of looking internally at the real problems and addressing them. start by opening your borders to trade (with india) and stop exporting proxies to Afg. - again, the rest of the world is cheering you along to wake up soon.
please come back... wastage of time to keep these ambassadors on taxpayers money,,
As Pakistani Ambassador to US Ms Sherry has to get out of the mindset of Pakistani domestic politics.Her woolly statements will diminish her US Role, with Mr Haqqani lurking in the background.
Has anyone given concrete, solid proof that OBL was in Pakistan? @critical thinker:
Get over the apology - get over your misplaced pride - its costing you dearly. Pak rebuffed offers for a joint investigation into the 26 NOV incident (that was a tragedy) - perhaps because it wanted to control the victim narrative. Where was the apology for harboring Bin Laden for 10 years? Instead, the world got denials - and then false umbrage for sovereignty violation. Just like the CT strikes - that wouldn't be necessary if Pak was only willing to do its own house cleaning. Political borders of a nation state means there's a responsibility for what goes on within those borders. Man up to your responsibilities and join the rest of the world - we're patiently waiting.
Madam Ambassador: only if wishes were horses......
Nonsense!