US interests converge with Pakistan's: Marc Grossman

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

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.