Pakistan seeks US help to get over Salala, but per parliament's guidelines
According to a press release, Presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the president reminded the US secretary of state that Pakistan “wanted to find a permanent solution regarding drone strikes since these not only violated Pakistan’s sovereignty but also inflamed the public’s sentiments due to civilian casualties.”
The president also made it clear that Pakistan ‘still felt aggrieved over the Salala incident’.
The president also raised the issue of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) payments with Secretary Clinton.
On the other hand, Secretary Clinton said that the US considers Pakistan an important ally in the war against terror and a partner in the efforts to promote regional peace.
The press release quoted Clinton as saying that the “US wanted to re-engage Pakistan and it respects the parliamentary review of the country’s engagement with the US”.
“It intends to move forward in its relationship with the people of Pakistan,” it added.
However, it was still not clear on what terms did the US intends to move forward in its relationship with Pakistan.
President Zardari also asked Secretary Clinton to help his country gain access to US markets and help Pakistan in “overcoming the present challenges including the energy crisis”.
Regarding the Afghan endgame, the president asserted said that “a genuine reconciliation process in the country which is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned remained the only viable solution to ending the conflict”.
“A trust deficit still remained between Pakistan and the US, on the other hand, and that implies that the goal of establishing a long-term, sustained and durable bilateral equation remains elusive,” he added.
“Bridging this trust deficit is a must for Pakistan in order to reinvigorate the counter-terrorism cooperation with the international community,” he said.
At the same time, “the public ownership of the efforts against terrorism must not be allowed to get weakened through incidents like Salala or the loss of civilian lives as a result of drone attacks”.
The president also highlighted the need “to evolve a mechanism on evolving cooperation on counter terrorism as outlined by country’s parliament”.
“Both sides must consider designing a framework to find a mutually acceptable alternative,” he asserted.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Ambassadors Cameron Munter, Marc Grossman and Sherry Rehman and Senator Farhatullah Babar, along with other officials.
A senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the two leaders “discussed the importance of reopening Nato supply lines; taking a joint action against elements which threatened Pakistan, the United States and the region including al Qaeda and the Haqqani network; of supporting Afghanistan’s security, stability and efforts towards reaching a reconciliation in addition to negotiating for a US-Pakistan Bilateral Investment Treaty.”
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Give them the help they want... but charge them $7,500 per nato supply truck!!
@Riaz Haq: sooner u stop dreaming and see realities better for pakis...
@BruteForce:
True and true......
I think most rationally thinking people realize that American has serious problems in the diplomatic field. Many people are suggesting that Pakistan is being scorned by the U.S. and being an insignificant country will not be given an apology over the Salala debacle. This is a long way from the truth. America rampages all over the world with its military personnel killing, stealing and raping. America almost always ships the incalcitrant troops home, does not apologize, gives the relatives of the dead in Muslim villages a small payment, pats the soldiers on the wrist and then forgets all about it. I could give many examples of unfortunate U.S. behaviour, but just ask the inhabitants of Okinawa, Japan what they have had to put up with for the last 67 years. This does not make it any better for Pakistan, but at least they are being given the usual standard American arrogant treatment that the rest of the world has to put with. .
Why negotiate with US and ask for appology. STOP negotiations.
If US needs you, they will appologize a 1000 times and listen to you. If you do not have self respect then do not expect US to respect you. US knows they are guilty of Sahala murders, but have no dignity to appologize, too prooud for an appology.
Guys ! This is a Charade that Pakistan opted to Play on International Stage, sadly they forgot, that this not their Domestic Audience, but a Global one, hence they called wrong card here too !!!! The Global Crowd is not buying the Ghairat BS, for sure !!!! Its Time to take stock of the situation, and move forward, otherwise Pakistan will find themselves in Isolation from the very people, who have Funded and supported them !
@Thoughtful: Agree with you fully ! Check the article in Guardian and telegraph in UK, today ! It tells the whole story and more !
Presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar in a press release said that the President, held extensive discussion in Chicago with the Ambassador Ms Sherry Rehman and the FM Ms Khar. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There is something in the Chicago air that enhances creativity !
Obama says $5000 per vehicle is too high a price for Pakistan's sovereignty and honour.
YEAH ! He means to say that he wants permanent drone strikes if thats what it takes to please the Bosses ...
@Anyways: Agreed, Pakistan has been cold-shouldered during the summit. Though Pakistan is an aggrieved party in the Salala episode but it has also been guilty of covertly supporting Taleban resulting in deaths of US and NATO forces members and sheltering OBL for six years. So, Pakistan needs to move on to avoid further humilation and sanctions.
I think PPP government is now taking perfect diplomatic stance for the real issues. I seriously think that Zardari is now bringing things in line. I am wasnt a Zardari supporter but realy appreciate his cleverness in all matters :) i hope he will use his skills in genuine issues as well, by doing so he can prove himself as one of the geat leaders... Mr Zardari prove your self and make Pak one of the proud country.
@ayesha_khan, well said Ayesha. "It is the direction of influence which is in question".
Why Pakistan supporting an extremist ideologist government in Kabul but sure they don’t want it in Pakistan…i.e. (TTP and its affiliated groups)…its hypocrisy: -)
@Riaz Haq Provided more than 20 billion Dollrs ???
Sir, Where are they? We are plunging deep into darks with thursty throats. Future alms earnings too, if any, will be shifted where ? Have you got an idea ?
The US will finally threaten to have all overseas & Swiss accounts blocked. The supply route will be opened within hours.
He really has very few doable options, considering the position we have stubbornly created ourselves of being backed into a corner with nothing but bluster as a weapon.
I think the headline of this article should have been:
Obama refuses to meet Zardari but meets President Hamid Karzai.
Why is our President shown meeting Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, instead of President Obama?
Where is our foreign office?
Let me get this straight. Pres. Zardari takes a volte face and Obama wouldnt even shake hands with him, let alone talk about relations.So what was the point of this whole trip excatly?
Why on earth he asking for US help on Salala? Last time, I checked US is the one who caused SALALA then what in GOD's name they are going help with. Make more SALALA like raids and/or publically humiliate our leaders.
This whole affairs is a dark comedy of epic proportions.
Look at the above picture. Something is missing in President's left hand. Anyone for Photoshop?
@Concerned: I think that it would be the other way around. Sitting in a tight corner alone and not meeting the world leaders. A total fiasco.
Why this selective reporting??? Why not face the facts as they stand??? This is the real story, about Chicago !!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/21/nato-us-pakistan-supply-lines
how can a govt negotiate if the people are demeaning and defaming its elected representatives
US must be fuming with rage for failing to get the supplies reopened after having given a free pass to Zardari for Chicago Summit.
I personally think President must watch the movie"Devil's Advocate" before visiting Chicago.
@Riaz Haq: Dream on Riaz. The delay in opening is unrelated to the apology. It is simply a negotiation between $250 per container which was paid earlier to NATO (and is now unacceptable to Pakistan) and $5000 per container that is being demanded now by Pakistan but unacceptable to NATO and the US. Once the amount is agreed, the routes will open - lack of apology not withstanding.
Secondly, Pakistan's influence is not in question. It is the direction of influence which is in question. Supporting the Haqqanis and Afghan Taliban DOES impact the war but not in the direction US or NATO wants it. It has been clear to the world that Pakistan will not withdraw support to these 'assets' no matter what economic blandishments come its way. Accordingly the relationship with Pakistan is limited to a transactional one of how much money for each truck? Nothing more than that is expected from Pakistan. Accordingly nothing more than money will be given.
Its SHAMEFUL, Obama don't want to meet Zardari... So this time Zardari's KASHKOL is EMPTY..
@huma
You keep printing the anonymous remarks of US official
You did this twice, repeating the same quote.
Is this Psywars to get people to follow such nonsense?
Peace in the region is possible with US withdrawal and also can only be brought about by Afghan masses and the region.
Pakistan has the longest border with Afghanistan and wields more influence there than any other country. It also provides the nearest seaport to Kabul. That is the fundamental reason why the U.S. has provided more than $20 billion to the country over the past decade, much of it to ensure supply logistics to US troops. “If we want to be successful in Afghanistan,” as General James L. Jones Jr., former National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama, said in recent congressional testimony, “the roads to that success have a lot to do with Pakistan.” Given these ground realities, the sooner the US apologizes to Pakistan for the Nov 26 incident to try and restore ties, the better it will be to achieve an end to the longest war in US history.
http://www.riazhaq.com/2011/12/us-military-supply-logistics-in.html
"However, it was not clear whether the US would chose to move forward on terms set by Pakistan, or by the US or something in between." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It is clear at least that US will not pay US5000 per container. Panetta said so!
@Imran Con: A a rant that makes no sense. You obviously don't know what is going on in Chicago and seem to possess insufficient knowledge to state a case clearly..
ET, at least show some exotic picture, President is not in the country, he is abroad, select a picture which matches your headline, from this picture it seems Clinton has come to see President in Pak, but in actual it is otherwise, and we have seen this Presidential background many times before.
Oh, God, same stuff regurgitated again and again. Get over it already. Pakistan is not that important, US will not apologize.
Get that in your minds, Pakistani leaders.
Pakistan seeks US help ... Classic example of Stockholm Syndrome.
According to NY times, "Mr. Obama remained at loggerheads with President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, refusing to meet one-on-one with him even though Mr. Zardari flew to the NATO summit meeting in Chicago ostensibly to finalize the supply line agreement."
The outcome of Chicago summit... Zardari just got a free trip.
Wait, the press release by one side is not journalism!
"However, it was not clear whether the US would chose to move forward on terms set by Pakistan, or by the US or something in between." Its been clear for a long time. People just refuse to listen. Just because Zardari says it in person, it doesn't give it any new factors to consider. If a new aspect was brought in, it could maybe be called unclear as the smallest thing can change attitudes. But, it's nothing new. The only positive that could come from it, under the circumstances of this particular conversation, is maybe Pakistan will stop pretending to be deaf.