US not considering aid cut: Crowley
The United States says it is building a strategic partnership with Pakistan in good faith.
WASHINGTON:
The United States has said it is building a strategic partnership with Pakistan in good faith and wants to resolve the issue over its consular employee Raymond Davis - now also identified by officials as a CIA employee - so that it does not affect the important bilateral relationship.
Assistant Secretary of State Philip J Crowley also said Washington is not considering curtailing any military or economic aid to Pakistan but insisted that Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released.
“We’re building a strategic partnership with Pakistan. It’s important to the future of the region. It’s also important to the security of the United States. We are engaging Pakistan in good faith. We want to see this resolved as soon as possible so it does not become an impediment in our relationship and it does not measurably interfere with the work we are doing together in fighting extremism that threatens Pakistan and threatens us,” he said. “We are not contemplating any actions along those lines,” Crowley said when asked if the US government is considering curtailing any of its military or economic assistance to Pakistan over the Davis row.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2011.
The United States has said it is building a strategic partnership with Pakistan in good faith and wants to resolve the issue over its consular employee Raymond Davis - now also identified by officials as a CIA employee - so that it does not affect the important bilateral relationship.
Assistant Secretary of State Philip J Crowley also said Washington is not considering curtailing any military or economic aid to Pakistan but insisted that Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released.
“We’re building a strategic partnership with Pakistan. It’s important to the future of the region. It’s also important to the security of the United States. We are engaging Pakistan in good faith. We want to see this resolved as soon as possible so it does not become an impediment in our relationship and it does not measurably interfere with the work we are doing together in fighting extremism that threatens Pakistan and threatens us,” he said. “We are not contemplating any actions along those lines,” Crowley said when asked if the US government is considering curtailing any of its military or economic assistance to Pakistan over the Davis row.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2011.