Pak-US ties: Zardari urges ‘clear’ terms of engagement
President Asif Ali Zardari emphasised upon the need for lucid terms of understanding between Pakistan and the US regarding the strategic alliance in the war against terror.
Contradictory positions on important issues and unilateral actions have adversely affected bilateral ties in recent times, the president asserted during his meeting with Ambassador Marc Grossman, US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Ambassador Grossman was accompanied by Ambassador Cameron Munter, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Rear Admiral Philip Davidson, and other senior officials. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Federal Minister for Finance, Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Interior, Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Syeda Sughra Imam, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Farhatullah Babar, presidential spokesman, also attended the meeting.
Farhatullah Babar, talking to the media after the meeting, said that Pak-US bilateral relationship, war against militants as well as the regional situation, with special reference to Afghanistan, were discussed during the meeting.
He said that the president made it clear that the absence of definitive and documented terms of engagements hamper diplomatic ties between allies. Hence, these should be clearly defined and mutually agreed upon in any future interaction between Pakistan and the US.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.
COMMENTS (27)
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@Tony Singh: Mr.Tommy Singh Sheikh Chilli if you will all didn't stop the propaganda against Pakistan then we will not speak our guns will. If we will get Kashmir then India will be in our Feets. just see the time, Time will told you everything. We are a Peacefull Country but you are not stopping the Poisons in our lives. you finance the Terrorists and Militants. you are involved in every terrorist activity in Pakistan and finally the Mumbai attacks was a drama by your RAW to get World's favour. It have to be investigate from ISI(Top Intelligence Agency of the World)They will told you the real facts.
You cannot ask for a pre-nuptial agreement after you have married and about to be divorced.
@ Malik, My name is Khan is correct in his views. we really need to get our house in order. We as a nation are paying the price with our lives and property. It's not the Indian Hindus but our own people killing each other. Your " Jazba " does not help Pakistan and the tone of your language only makes things worse for the rest of Pakistan who are mostly sensible and generous people. I am a Pakistani and a Muslim and certainly do not agree with you We must learn to live and let live.
@BruteForce: If India is a Super Power or Future Super Power dosn't matter We will Win every War from our enemies INSHALLAH. We offer Guns and Roses to our Enemies which to pick first. If roses then Welcome if Guns then Tanks Jets and Ships are ready to Fire Super Sonic Attacks on one click. Mean it all Enemies of Pakistan.
@Shameful Indian:
Indeed, shame is on you!
@Malik Sajjad:
Not even in your wildest hallucinatory dreams or fantasy. What is happening is INSALLAH is destroying you because he doesn't like you. Your violence against humanity has turned him completely off against people like you who use his name to kill innocent people. It is a crying shame, you call yourself a Muslim.
I grew up with plenty of Muslims, and some are life long friends going back couple generations at least and let me assure you, not single one share your pathetic views.
INSALLAH is furious at you for dicrediting his name. No, we Indians have nothing against Islam, Muslims or INSALLAH but we have lot against the violence people like prepetrate against humanity and really don't believe; Hindu's are alone in this.
@Malik Sajjad: "You all Indian Hindus have the same Mentality. you will always against Pakistan, but remember one War is left in the Answer of 1971′s War. All Indian Muslims will be the Part of Pakistan in near Future and Half Indian Map also With Kashmir and Bombay Delhi with ALLAH’S HELP.INSHALLAH TALAH" DReam on like Sheikh Chilli. It doesn't cost a penny. I wish Ejaz Haider reads this comment of Mallik Sajjad and write an amended article on how Pakistan is a "revisionist" state
@My Name is Khan: You Passed the comments like an Indian Hindu.Please avoid these kind of Comments which degrade Pakistan's Status. but sorry to say If you are not an Indian then you are Gaddar a Wolf in Sheeps who have no belive in Pak Army and all our Forces.
@Shameful Indian: Yes we are shameless. Its free country. You be what you want to be.
@My Name is Khan:
If someone offers an opinion that makes sense, he is immediately labelled as an INDIAN !!
What a tremendous insight !
@ Bruteforce
You remind me of Nathoram Godse, the killer of Gandhiji, he must have a brain as sick as yours. No Indian has ever been proud of warriors, either you are not a indian or if you are then u dont represent the 99% majority, People like you put all Indians to shame. It is people like you who join gangs Modi and Thackery.... You come here to antagonize Pakistanis but the only thing you are doing is perpetuating hate. Shame on you -- you are a completely shameless Indian..
53rd. state pls in other words
This is ridiculous. Though I will say, first, that documented and clear terms of engagement is a reasonable request and the US should humor it and go along with the request. As for the ridiculous aspect... Don't play dumb, you know what the terms are and you have from the beginning. It has been roughly 10 years. There is no excuse for this issue to be coming up now after all this time if you really didn't know what the terms were. Nobody has been vague about it. In fact, they've been excessively blunt about it and even have had to repeat themselves so many times I'm sure they've lost count quite some time ago.
If you're ever confused about what to do, consult common sense and if that fails, ask yourself this: "have these people been blowing people up?" if the answer is yes, do something about it. It won't ever steer you wrong.
@Malik Sajjad:
The 1971 war itself was a response for the 1965 aggression from Pakistan. Why would want to take on a future Super Power?
@Hasan,
If US is guilty is softening up to India, then so is China. You dont hear the harsh rhetoric that you used to from China now. You cannot fight an elephant and hope to win that fight and not get hurt. Its better to befriend it or run away.
@ Malik - and you my brother is what ails my homeland of Pakistan. No Pakistani can make a sane or reasonable comment without being called an Indian. If being reasonable and not living in delusion means not being Pakistani, so be it.
You first call me an Indian Hindu and then an Indian Muslim. I am neither and your comment makes you look ignorant and foolish.
Besides that, your comment is offensive not only to our Indian Muslim brethren who show no interest in joining Pakistan but also all Indians. We tell ourselves that we need a big military and stfategic assets because India has never accepted our existence yet people like you spew Zaid Hamid like hatred and stupidity. Our army can't even control Karachi. How could we expect to conquer anyone else.
@ Hassan - our government and military give no reason to trust us. How many Pakistanis trust their own government or military? Stop being delusional.
@ Hasan,
The only good thing that the Americans have done in the past decade or so is to open a partnership with India, an emerging power with which it shares a lot of values and interests. This also means that for Pakistan, the days of free lunch is soon coming to an end ..... !
Pakistan did not open an LOC (Letter of Credit) for their export commodity of terrorism. USA"S debt ceiling issues were not cleared and hence USD is volatile Pakistan's own currency is also facing a free fall USA did not pay any advance money for services to be rendered and has not cleared the past bills from Pakistan yet. USA's pressure on IMF is required for the second and third tranche of the bail out package and may be more in future. China has started saying "Do more" Obviously Pakistan is not clear of the terms of engagement and would like to clarify them not only with US but also with China
@Hasan: India's emergence is a reality whether we like it or not. The United States has not blundered into projecting India as a regional power. It had no choice as the writing is on the wall. The world thinks, we dream.
@My Name is Khan: You all Indian Hindus have the same Mentality. you will always against Pakistan, but remember one War is left in the Answer of 1971's War. All Indian Muslims will be the Part of Pakistan in near Future and Half Indian Map also With Kashmir and Bombay Delhi with ALLAH'S HELP.INSHALLAH TALAH
The terms of engagement are clear--honesty, sincerity and committment to weeding out international terrrorism.
Salam I think Pak-US relations should be clearly documented according to international laws and treaties. It is the besttime for pakistan to throw down the yoke of one sided support and yesman attitude. US has made blunder by encouraging India to become regional superpower. regards, Hasan
I thought the terms were pretty clear: Pakistan must stop supporting, harboring, funding, amd training terrorists.