Improving relations: Pak-US tensions ease through ‘quiet diplomacy’
Pakistan and the United States have gained significant ground in their efforts to improve anti-terror cooperation, which in recent weeks had been dented over the issue of how to deal with the Haqqani network.
In an apparent sign of de-escalation of months-old tensions, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to arrive here later this week. Clinton will arrive on October 20 for a two-day trip, said an official. However, both the US Embassy and the foreign ministry declined to comment on the visit.
Clinton’s trip materialised after both Pakistani and US officials described the positive discussions Marc Grossman had with the Pakistani leaders last week. A US diplomat, who preferred we did not print his name, said that Grossman had a very constructive trip to Pakistan. A Pakistani security official endorsed this assessment. Differences between the two countries have been narrowed down on some of the key issues, the official added, although he refused to divulge the details.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington on Sunday also indicated that the two countries had been able to normalise their ties through quiet diplomacy.
According to APP, Haqqani told a gathering of the Pakistani-American community in Portland, Oregon, that challenges remain in the wide-ranging bilateral ties but relations are gradually coming back to normal. “Both Islamabad and Washington realise we need each other and a strong, positive bilateral relationship is in the best interest of our two countries and their peoples,” said Haqqani.
Despite the positive whispers emanating from diplomatic sources, it is unclear if the two sides have been able to iron out their differences on how to tackle the Haqqani network, allegedly based in North Waziristan Agency.
The US remains adamant that the deadliest Afghan Taliban allied insurgent group must be dealt with forcefully. However, Secretary Clinton recently hinted at reaching out to the Haqqanis in the quest to seek a political solution to the Afghan impasse.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2011.
COMMENTS (11)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732354127-0/Untitled-design-(3)1732354127-0-270x192.webp "north america s oldest macaroni penguins mark their 40th year")
1732344836-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(37)1732344836-0.jpg "israeli attack targets hospital killing seven medics in lebanon")
I think Hilary Clinton is a much more honest and impartial broker for improving Pak US ties since she has a good understanding of the region and what Pakistan went through after it defeated the Soviets in Afghanistan.
The 'quiet diplomacy' is nothing but Pakistan quietly agreeing to the US terms. Statements such as "...Grossman had a very constructive trip to Pakistan. A Pakistani security official endorsed this assessment." * and * “Both Islamabad and Washington realise we need each other and a strong, positive bilateral relationship is in the best interest of our two countries and their peoples,” said Haqqani. are indicative of what transpired behind closed doors. Ms. HC will be in Pakistan to clarify to the press any doubts that Pakistani army may have.
The USA didn't change it's policy on Pakistan because of a few meetings - it now is letting time and the absence of money/aid do it's work. Each day Pakistan leaders get a taste of what it's going to be like without American support - in the long run that might be OK for Pakistan but somewhere during that process it also means that the Pakistani people are going rebel against power outages, rampage inflation, hunger etc. and kick out the powerful elite who put them in this precarious position. As those powerful people see the possibility of their demise they may become more pliable to the USA position.
Does the top brass in Islamabad miss the late Richard Holbrooke? Marc Grossman, the new Special Envoy knows Pakistan from his days serving in the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Mrs Clinton certainly hopes that Grossman would accomplish what Holbrooke left undone.
What is discussed behind closed doors will never be revealed. Public will continue to be deceived by statements meant to confuse rather than clarify. It is a mugs game with the citizens of both countries being taken for a ride.
It doesn't matter what the U.S. did in the past. America is a super power and must has to tackle all the terrorists in Waziristan and elsewhere in the country. Every foreign terrorist is being discovered in FATA and other places in Pakistan including Osama Bin Ladin. Pakistanis are hitting an axe on their own feet by allowing the ideology of hatred and Ideology of false Islam to flourish in their country. That must stop, otherwise the country is doomed to failure and God will never forgive Pakistani leaders for their treacherous ways of supporting nihilistic people who want to suck the blood of innocent people all over the world. That's unacceptable.
Relations will appear to be improving until the next crisis right around the corner.
Miss Clinton is a sane voice in present american administration. Madam please do not forget that the 30-year-past of Af-Pak region is heavily influenced by American interferences. See how you can help Pakistan is overcoming its difficulties because eventually it will help your country, too.
H Clinton is welcome if she visits us with fine purpose and not with more threats to do more in our tribal agencies. As America has already planned to leave AFGHANISTAN she should leave keeping in view interests of both AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN and its poor masses more than her own and it should be through dialogue not bloodshed.
The bird that makes the loudest noise does not get the worm, the US has figured out that Pakistan is the loud bird and when its cage is rattled it will calm down and and settle for the dead worm.