US has to observe international law: UK minister
Alistair Burt says the UK is keen on helping ease Islamabad- Washington tension.
ISLAMABAD:
Drone attacks are an operational matter between the US and Pakistan, but the Obama administration has to observe the international law in this regard, said a senior UK official on Tuesday.
Talking to the media at the residence of the British High Commissioner here, UK’s minister for South Asia at the foreign and commonwealth Alistair Burt said that the Abbottabad debacle had given his visit a different perspective, making it ‘timely’.
The UK has been a key ally for Pakistan and has expressed great interest in this part of the region. However, with the presence of its troops in Afghanistan, UK is now reaffirming its ties with Pakistan and is keen on ending the current spat between Pakistan and the US.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday, in his telephonic conversation with his British counterpart David Cameron, was informed that Pakistan’s message on the protection of sovereignty would be delivered to US President Barrack Obama during his visit to Britain next week.
Burt stated that US Senator John Kerry’s joint statement is reassuring and that the relationship between the US and Pakistan would be restored on all sides, including the parliament, but with the passage of time.
“It will take time for the confidence to return,” he said. However, the relationship between Pakistan and the US should be strong. Both countries have been successful in killing the common enemy and this incident should be taken as an opportunity to reconcile with Afghanistan,” Burt added.
Addressing key issues relating to the fate of the relationship between Pakistan and the US, the minister said that operational activity between the two countries over terrorism is constantly evolving. “The Pakistan-US relationship is very important for the future.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2011.
Drone attacks are an operational matter between the US and Pakistan, but the Obama administration has to observe the international law in this regard, said a senior UK official on Tuesday.
Talking to the media at the residence of the British High Commissioner here, UK’s minister for South Asia at the foreign and commonwealth Alistair Burt said that the Abbottabad debacle had given his visit a different perspective, making it ‘timely’.
The UK has been a key ally for Pakistan and has expressed great interest in this part of the region. However, with the presence of its troops in Afghanistan, UK is now reaffirming its ties with Pakistan and is keen on ending the current spat between Pakistan and the US.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday, in his telephonic conversation with his British counterpart David Cameron, was informed that Pakistan’s message on the protection of sovereignty would be delivered to US President Barrack Obama during his visit to Britain next week.
Burt stated that US Senator John Kerry’s joint statement is reassuring and that the relationship between the US and Pakistan would be restored on all sides, including the parliament, but with the passage of time.
“It will take time for the confidence to return,” he said. However, the relationship between Pakistan and the US should be strong. Both countries have been successful in killing the common enemy and this incident should be taken as an opportunity to reconcile with Afghanistan,” Burt added.
Addressing key issues relating to the fate of the relationship between Pakistan and the US, the minister said that operational activity between the two countries over terrorism is constantly evolving. “The Pakistan-US relationship is very important for the future.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2011.