Need to keep talking to US to avoid repeat of Salala: Munter

Munter says aid under Kerry-Lugar bill has not been suspended or blocked.

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter on Monday said that the United States and Pakistan need to keep talking to each other to ensure that there is no repetition of the incidents like Salala attack, in which 24 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives.    

In an interview to state run Pakistan Television, he said that there was mechanism in place on both sides of the border to prevent such incidents, however the fact that it did happen, indicates a failure of the mechanism.

He said that based on initial findings of the inquiry, which is underway, the United States would take steps to ensure such incidents do not recur in future. Munter, however, said for this to happen both Pakistan and the United States will have to remain engaged and talk to each other.

He said US wanted the bilateral relationship between US and Pakistan to be restored to its previous level. He reiterated the US claim that the attack was not deliberate and said that the loss of lives of Pakistani soldiers was as unfortunate and regrettable as the loss of American soldiers.

When his attention was drawn to previous inquiries in similar attacks that produced no tangible results, the US Ambassador said his country requested Pakistan to join investigation of the incident, but Pakistan decided not to join it.

Munter said that the result of the inquiry would be known within a few weeks, and would be shared with Pakistan.

Asked about Pakistan's oft-repeated stance that it wanted new rules of engagement, Munter said the two sides ought to talk to each other at different levels. ”There is a need for leaders to remain engaged and there should be interaction between militaries, intelligence agencies and economic experts,” he added.

He contradicted reports that US economic assistance to Pakistan had been suspended and or blocked, saying  aid under Kerry-Lugar-Bermin Bill was continuing. He added that the United States wanted Pakistan to succeed and was ready to provide every kind of cooperation for the purpose.

Replying to a question about popular notion in Pakistan that it should not pursue the war on terror, Munter commented regarding the Mohmand Agency attack, "we understand the concerns of people of Pakistan as it was a terrible tragedy." However, answering the broader question of war against terror, he reminded, that both countries were facing militants. “This is not just America's war but people of Pakistan are also threatened by terrorists."

Munter stressed that Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States needed o work together to eliminate the threat of militants.

Regarding the Bonn Conference which Pakistan had boycotted, he said that the United States wanted Pakistan to attend the moot but "we respect its decision not to participate".