Huma Imtiaz, The Express Tribune‘s correspondent based in Washington DC discusses United States military’s Central Command (Centcom) General James N Mattis' scheduled trip to Pakistan, where he is expected to meet Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. She says the most significant sign of changing relations is that this time the Americans are choosing to send a military officer rather than employing the regular diplomatic channels.
Imtiaz says the perception in DC is that NATO supply routes cannot be blocked forever, they are expecting a monetary agreement of heavier taxes levied on the trucks to be the solution for now.
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COMMENTS (11)
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@American,
either with us or against us,,,dont YOU guys have a normal life... mind your business and let us poor nations live our lives...
@Amjad: your comments are absolutely right,fencing is must for economy and security of all kind because USA will some how maintain their presence in Kabul disturbing all around and continue paying heavy tax payer money for stupidities.
show me the money general, there is no free lunch in pakistan any more for you guys
@Roflcopter: ...now I get it.. If he comes…it is begging If he doesn’t come…it is a conspiracy against Pakistan. Any one you disagree with has no brains. You have all the brains.
@ahsan: The Pakistani nation has always been cheated by its own self serving dictators and politicians. Only this year we learned how cheaply Musharraf gave away Pakistan's transit routes for nothing while the Central Asians and Russians charge 4 times as much. Not only should our roads, infrastructure and border facilities be improved by Pakistan should also push for the construction of a fence / wall on the Pak - Afghan border so that Afghanis cannot infiltrate into Pakistan to cause trouble any more.
@American, it was a conspiracy but it backfired. Do you have a brain?
@Roflcopter: If he comes...it is begging If he doesn't come...it is a conspiracy against Pakistan. Don't you guys in Pakistan have an ordinary conversation ?
Pakistan should present the list of demands;apology by the President of USA on media,blood money to the soldiers as they pay to their own soldiers,no drone attacks,open free trade to USA and NATO countries,forthwith deposit/pay all outstanding CSF without audit with markup of delay,no hurdle in PAK-IRAN pipeline,no role of India in Afghanistan after 2014,wave off all loans -our economy suffered 60 billion damage during a war on terror in last 10 years,open supply route three months(quarterly basis)extant after proper review by a govt/mil committee,every containers should pay net fee in cash at Karachi before leaving the port.No interference in internal matters of Pakistan,all peace talks of Afghanistan must held in Kabul no where else in the presence neighbours having Afghan refugees.NOW DON'T BE PENNY WISE AND £ FOOLISH,americans are too selfish and shrewd.
The entire country and the Pakistani nation have fallen victim of US after 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Pakistan has paid a very heavy price, monetary as well as loss of precious human lives, in becoming front line state to fight US war on terror in Pakistan.
People of Pakistan cannot afford to remain ally of US government whether in terms of opening NATO supply routes or fighting unending US war on terror.
Time has come that we should give priority to Pakistan and NOT to the US.
If US wants to maintain diplomatic relations with Pakistan without opening NATO supply routes it is okay with us, otherwise, Pakistanis are not interested to even maintain diplomatic relations with US at the cost of Pakistan and Pakistanis.
We have a bitter taste of PAK-US relations which are based on US double standard policy and now we have become sick and tired of US terrorist policies.
Now he is coming personally to beg. Hilarious.
Much to do over a simple visit by an American General to a Pakistani General - not sure that I would conclude that opening the NATO supply line is imminent. It is logical that the USA continue military contacts with Pakistan - if nothing else the USA knows that the Pakistani military controls foreign policy and is solely responsible for whatever relationship Pakistan has with the militants.