Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman described 2011 as a ‘long line of bilateral catastrophes’. Making her first major public appearance since taking over the office, she claimed that she had no intention of ‘portraying a victim narrative’.
In her opening remarks at the US Institute of Peace, she said, “Pakistan has no shortage of commitment for the effort against extremism, militancy or terrorism today.” Her speech focused primarily on the conditions in Pakistan, and the subject of US-Pakistan relations.
“The tragedy at Mohmand (Agency) really served as an end-line trigger that called for a fundamental re-set,” Ambassador Sherry said, adding that since Pakistan did not receive an immediate apology, it left “a strong mark on the Pakistani psyche, spurring a re-think of the modalities of how we had been working together.”
She highlighted how al Qaeda’s core assets had been defeated with Pakistan’s cooperation and reminded that many in the US administration have also ‘echoed this view’.
She added that many in Pakistan and the US believed that it was time “that this relationship matured into a more consistent, stable and transparent equation, with weight given to mutual respect.”
However she left a disclaimer saying that the subject should best be reserved right now for Parliament to decide. Coming back to the issue Pakistan’s role in the war on terror, she said the Embassy of Pakistan will issue a weekly scorecard of the losses suffered by Pakistan in the war.
Saying that Pakistan supports an Afghan-led reconciliation process, the Pakistani envoy said, “We do not consider Afghanistan our strategic backyard, as many claim we do, but we do have the highest stakes in Afghan stability.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2012.
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Democratically elected government in the center,can have authority to decide matter according law and constitution. powerful armed forces,operating against insurgents and terrorism,everywhere in the country. Independent judiciary having a weapon of sue moto in hand which is custodian of human rights all over the country. So taking any action,should keep in mind the whole scenario. People of Pakistan,this time is not in position to forgive those responsible for that tragic incident,you are advised come across the table and have negotiate with representatives of the people,say sorry and remove all reservations to justify the bilateral relations.
Only apology is not a matter, United States should pay compensation to the bereaved families. And further stop drone attacks on the tribal ares bordering Afghanistan and led the Pakistani military to act against terrorist and insurgents.
Pakistan has to face the outcomes and counterproductive created by American's drone attacks, so it is dire need of the time,the world's single super power remain in its diameter and avoid to make itself and the ally a question mark before the world and people of Pakistan as well.
Now if it was HH he would have laid the entire blame on Pakistan itself and praised US by leaps and bounds!!!
She should have started off her speech by first apologizing to the people of US for the OBL fiasco and then should have spun her speech. She missed the opportunity. So did Ms. Khar when she was in NY.
She should travel to NY and see how people feel about PAK after learning about OBL finding in PAK.