Pakistan

US interests converge with Pakistan's: Marc Grossman

America respects Pakistan’s sovereignty claims US special envoy to Afghanistan.

Afp/express May 19, 2011

ISLAMABAD: America’s special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman reiterated that America respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and that US and Pakistani interests in the region converge. He said this in an exclusive interview with Express 24/7 special correspondent Quatrina Hosain.

Grossman said the US recognises the sacrifices made by the military and people of Pakistan in the war on terror. He added that the Obama administration is taking a step-by-step approach with Pakistan over issues, adding that not everybody will be reconciled in Afghanistan and terrorists in that country have to be defeated on the battlefield.

Grossman said the war on terror will go on till al Qaeda no longer have the capacity to target people worldwide.

On whether funding has a part to play in terrorism, Grossman said terrorism in the region comes partly from the narcotics trade in Afghanistan.

Grossman arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday as part of efforts to calm angry tensions between the two countries over the US operation that killed Osama bin Laden.

The US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan held talks with President Zardari and other cabinet ministers.

Pakistan's civilian and military leaders were left angry and embarrassed over a unilateral US raid that discovered and killed Al-Qaeda's chief living, possibly for years, two hours' drive from the Pakistani capital.

Pakistan's parliament demanded no repeating of the raid, although US President Barack Obama hasd reserved the right to act again, and Islamabad had also insisted US drone strikes targeting Taliban and Al-Qaeda leaders on its territory must end.

The military threatened to review intelligence cooperation in the war on Al-Qaeda and Islamabad called the raid "unauthorised unilateral action".

The US depends on Pakistani logistical and military support to fight the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan.

COMMENTS (13)

SAM | 13 years ago | Reply @sukhish: Don't think Balochistan ahas any impending UN resolutions against it!

Mir Chakar Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @sukhish: @sohaib: The Balochistan 'issue' is not about showing any one where they belong. It is not about egos. It is about the aspiration of 8 million people. Opressed, bombed, stolen from and tortured. We want our freedom just for peace.

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Bismillah Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistani

s have been made foolish buffoons by Kayani and his troop.
The wikileaks clearly show this but then ISI & their cohoots like Zaid Hamid will plant Conspiracy theories and make our public fools again. Pakistani

s are inveterate fools, when we don`t learn not to get fooled again & again. Best Example being Raymond Davis Affair or Drones or Osama, the ISI / Army has succeed in fooling us in the name of Ghairat. They should come out openly and honestly to the people.

Thinking | 13 years ago | Reply @ Remember - China is not going to back Pakistan in any war. China has never helped Pakistan in a war or even in the Kargil conflict or Siachen conflict. Let's understand why: a) China's trade with India is greater than its trade with Pakistan b) China has its own issues with its Muslim majority regions c) China has no interest in war, it just wants to flex its muscles d) China wants to make money, not war If Pakistan goes to war with India, I suspect the result will be the same as the last three times Pakistan has gone to war with India. It's not about who is better it's just that Pakistan cannot afford the resources that India can. @ Humayun - that's how India feels knowing that many of the terrorists that have struck its land live in its neighbor.

humayun ilahi | 13 years ago | Reply IF OSAMA was in CANADA how would U.S.A have proceeded. THIs needs to be examined.

Sultan Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply It would be historical mistake if they repeated and attacked by Drone Air Craft.

sohaib | 13 years ago | Reply @sukhish the issue is kashmir and India's hegemony in this region. Once Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland issues are settled, India will know where it belongs. Their high flight of fantasy needs to be brought down

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @Remember: Hey !! Stick to the facts and article in question!! get real where is the K word involved in this particular issue?? it seems that this obsession has really not allowed you to progress any further in last 60 years!!! Its a piece of land locked hilly terrian, which even the local indigenous people have been too messed up by both parties concerned and actually How many Kashmiris have actually played any part in fed politics in Pakistan? Please don't divert from the the topic, there is far more important issues in Pakistan at present than Kashmir!!

sukhish | 13 years ago | Reply I think the key is not kashmir, but balouchistan. resolve that and pakistan will know its place.

Remember | 13 years ago | Reply i think the main issue is kashmir.solve that problem and everything will come to normal. we dont want 3rd world war where china and the muslim world on one side and america india and israel on the other.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply The "Sovereignty" is very important! As long as, Its ok for USA to just pay little vists to take out those people who they deemed to be bad guys, without informing their Junior Partners in this charade !!!

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply No new issues. The USA isn't going to allow terrorist to use Pakistan as sanctuary to attack others. Pakistan doesn't want the USA to impede on it's sovereignty but also doesn't want to take on the terrorist. Time for some tough choices and living with the consequences of those decision - for both parties. Lots of talk about cutting off aid to Pakistan - but that's just he tip of the iceberg. When financial aid dry's up Pakistan will withdraw support for fuel etc. Drones may escalate to manned bombers and then things may get out of hand. I doubt the USA will contemplate a conflict with boots on the ground but they have the stealth capacity to turn out the lights throughout Pakistan with zero American casualties - maybe a very uncomfortable summer in Pakistan with no electricity.

Fahad Raza | 13 years ago | Reply I think he should pay some heed to the last word of his predecessor.

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