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Khar to visit Washington to chalk out ‘clear-cut’ deal

Published: July 12, 2012

It will be the first high-profile visit since the Nato route stand-off. PHOTO: INP/FILE

ISLAMABAD: 

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will soon visit Washington in an effort to chalk out a ‘clear-cut’ deal on the relationship between the two countries, a Pakistani diplomat posted in Washington told The Express Tribune.

This will be the first visit by a senior Pakistani official to Washington since the lifting of the seven-month long blockade of the Nato transit routes.

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton had invited Khar during a meeting on the fringes of the recent Afghan conference in Tokyo, the official said. “The foreign minister accepted the invitation and dates of the visit are being finalised.”

Khar will meet with key US officials, including Clinton, to thrash out details of an agreement for future cooperation between the two allies.

An agreement on Nato routes will be one of the key issues, the official said, adding that a ‘clear-cut’ deal would be chalked out “covering each and every aspect of bilateral relations”.

Despite Washington’s initial reluctance, Islamabad is believed to have convinced the Obama administration of entering into a written agreement identifying not only areas of cooperation, but also ‘no-go’ areas.

“There are several bilateral issues which need immediate attention,” said another Pakistani official requesting anonymity. He added: “Islamabad was keen to revive the stalled strategic dialogue to ensure that Pak-US ties are not merely confined to security cooperation.”

The strategic dialogue, which covers a wide range of issues from Pakistan’s energy needs to its health and education sectors, was initiated by the Obama administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2012.

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Reader Comments (28)

  • Munda baloch
    Jul 12, 2012 - 8:40AM

    “Clear-Cut Deal ??!! Deal of Bowl ,,,, ha-ha !

    Recommend

  • GrimmJow
    Jul 12, 2012 - 8:57AM

    Pakistan must be one of the US closest ally, since there are so many state level visits involved from both the side so frequently.

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  • Thoughtful
    Jul 12, 2012 - 8:59AM

    Has any truck crossed the border yet?

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  • Iftikhar-ur-Rehman
    Jul 12, 2012 - 9:02AM

    Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will soon visit Washington in an effort to chalk out a ‘clear-cut’ deal on the relationship between the two countries, OR CLEAR CUT **INSTRUCTIONS??

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  • Char Latan
    Jul 12, 2012 - 9:04AM

    Poor woman is going to have grey hair soon – caught as she is between a rock and a hard place.

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  • ASIM
    Jul 12, 2012 - 9:12AM

    What is the use of these visits for a poor country when we have telephone and video conferencing available?

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  • ashok sai
    Jul 12, 2012 - 10:31AM

    Stand in queue for Carrots, hope you won’t forget I have a stick with me.

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  • malik
    Jul 12, 2012 - 10:35AM

    Clear cut deal = When are you going to give us more money ?

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  • Praful R Shah
    Jul 12, 2012 - 10:44AM

    @GrimmJow:

    Are you kidding? NO.

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  • Sanatan Pradhan
    Jul 12, 2012 - 11:07AM

    very good idea…that money can be used somewhere…

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  • A Peshawary
    Jul 12, 2012 - 11:53AM

    @Iftikhar-ur-Rehman:
    What a passimist remarks?
    Peshawary

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  • A Peshawary
    Jul 12, 2012 - 12:00PM

    @ashok sai:
    If you are an Indian you can say as younger brother of your boss. India never faced with stick as it submits even before stick is raised. The result is the carrot automatically. It is the matter of mutual interests to deserve is carrot or stick. Perhaps Pakistan does fit into the clash of interest therefore it has to work harder for protection of its own interest as it does not fit into having big borther(s).

    A PeshawaryRecommend

  • Rana
    Jul 12, 2012 - 12:39PM

    A rewarded chill out tour for the job done!

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  • Hegdefunder
    Jul 12, 2012 - 1:31PM

    Save the taxpayers money Maam , as there is no other deal to be chalked out ! Washington has already got their deal and are not likely to offer any other deals at present !
    Pure waste of Taxpayer’s money for your personal Sojourn !

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  • RS
    Jul 12, 2012 - 1:42PM

    Normally a deal is discussed n sealed than only than practical steps take place. It’s funny NATO supply now running, drones visiting Pakistan, NATO or USA none paying any fees for distraction of our roads, added corruption etc etc And after all this now FM is going to put agreement on the paper. Hellooooooo are we missing some think here!

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  • Iftikhar-ur-Rehman
    Jul 12, 2012 - 1:57PM

    @A Peshawary:

    Its not a PESSIMIST remark my friend, it is a FACT of LIFE!!!!!

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  • sure stinks
    Jul 12, 2012 - 2:32PM

    USA to Pakistan: Do more and beg less!!

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  • Jul 12, 2012 - 3:58PM

    Written agreement is essential,
    verbal agreement is not an agreement
    it can be violated at any stage of the circumstances.

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  • Polpot
    Jul 12, 2012 - 4:25PM

    I can already see Ms Khar declaring that ” it was a very very successful visit”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Did she not say that after the Chicago Nato summit?

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  • Hegdefunder
    Jul 12, 2012 - 5:35PM

    @Sultan Ahmed:
    Written agreement is essential,
    verbal agreement is not an agreement
    it can be violated at any stage of the circumstances

    Did Pakistan provide written agreement to USA in their partnership, in War on Terror ?
    As no doubt, they obviously had different agenda while accepting billions of $$$ and still were providing inflated bills for services not rendered !

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  • Jul 12, 2012 - 5:54PM

    All the world,including The United States of American know that
    Pakistan is passing through a power crisis .He is facing tough circumstances
    and tremendous pressure on behalf of people of Pakistan.

    Pakistan ,time and again,requested state department to provide civil nuclear
    technology so that country might overcome the power crisis but would have
    face refusal.

    Our foreign minister is going to visit Washington,chance will be available on the
    table ,request can be made for provision the civil nuclear technology.

    over land supply routes has been opened on the request and American leadership looks
    in delightful mood on this so according to my considered opinion it will be golden chance for us to request for,there are hundred percent chance of success.

    Recommend

  • Jul 12, 2012 - 6:00PM

    @Hegdefunder:
    Fully agreed with you,but a new chapter regarding
    the bilateral relations is going to open.
    I hope,United States has learned more from the history.

    Recommend

  • Hegdefunder
    Jul 12, 2012 - 6:39PM

    @Sultan Ahmed:
    “I hope,United States has learned more from the history”

    Rest assure that US has learned a very big lesson in regards to Pakistan, over period of last 18 months.
    This relation is going to be dictated by US, regardless who is in White House as Pakistan has really lost any leverage they had since the OBL affair, supply route mess inaction against selected groups in NW etc….
    In regards to Civil Nuclear Deal !
    This is a straight non starter as Pakistan’s past actions in regards to proliferation are not likely to be forgotten by any responsible Nation on the Planet !
    Pakistan needs to start helping themselves first, by coming clean and being honest with themselves as to the actual state of affairs and their flawed policies first, before anyone is going to come to their assistance on the scale required for Pakistan to emerge from the mess they are in !

    Recommend

  • Jul 12, 2012 - 6:51PM

    “No Go Area”
    I am trying to understand the correct meanings of the above-mentioned words.
    it mean no thoroughfare.?
    Tribal areas,including or excluding porous border/?

    Pakistan is sovereign state ,it has tribal areas,such as Shawal and others
    bordering Afghanistan.

    It is an admitted fact that safe havens of terrorists are spread both sides the
    borders ,for overcoming the insurgency both sides needs new strategy.It is very
    important and sensitive matter but will have to resolve.

    According to my considered opinion,new written agreement granted no permission to
    Nato and American forces to strike the territory by drones comes under the Pakistani sovereignty
    it mean both signatory control their own borders respectively.
    In this way, Pakistan would have to compelled to DO MORE.

    Recommend

  • sattar rind
    Jul 12, 2012 - 8:39PM

    curbing terrorist is big issue for Pakistan. Ms. Khar should be focused on it.

    Recommend

  • gp65
    Jul 12, 2012 - 11:04PM

    @A Peshawary: “@ashok sai:
    If you are an Indian you can say as younger brother of your boss. India never faced with stick as it submits even before stick is raised. The result is the carrot automatically. “

    Please read history. Which country was non-aligned and which country signed SEATO/CENTO pacts. Which country allowed itself to get radicalized by partnering with US in Afghan jihad in 1980s and which country stayed away. Which country got billions of dollars in aid and which country did not.

    Recommend

  • gp65
    Jul 12, 2012 - 11:16PM

    @Sultan Ahmed: “Our foreign minister is going to visit Washington,chance will be available on the
    table ,request can be made for provision the civil nuclear technology.
    over land supply routes has been opened on the request and American leadership looks
    in delightful mood on this so according to my considered opinion it will be golden chance for us to request for,there are hundred percent chance of success.”

    Your mindset has been shaped by your media that overstates Pakistan’s importance and understates other people’s options and leverage. This is why you see something which actually has no chance of coming through as an entitlement and describe it as having 100% likelihood of success.

    Recommend

  • Ahmer Ali
    Jul 14, 2012 - 11:33AM

    In this clear-cut deal with US’ officials the stopping of the drones’ strikes shall not be included because USA shall never stop drones’ strikes.This is confirmed…….Recommend

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