Improving relations: Pak-US tensions ease through ‘quiet diplomacy’
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton due to arrive in Islamabad later this week.
ISLAMABAD:
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.
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.