Delayed response: US to apologise over NATO air raid – finally
After months of diplomatic squabbling over a deadly cross-border air raid by Nato troops on Pakistani posts, the United States now plans to offer a formal public apology to Islamabad, officials said on Monday.
Until now Washington was reluctant to apologise over the November 26, 2011 air strike on Pakistani border posts in the Salala area of Mohmand Agency that killed two dozen troops. It has ‘regretted’ the incident, though.
“The apology may come from the highest level and will be offered during or soon after the joint session of Parliament, which is scheduled to open a debate today on new terms of engagement (with the US),” a senior leader in the PPP-led ruling coalition told The Express Tribune.
The senior leader attended recent consultations between the country’s civilian and military leadership to finalise a strategy for the much-anticipated session of Parliament.
He said that the US has conveyed to Pakistan’s government that it was willing to offer a formal apology over the Nato air raid. “And it will come from the highest level,” he added.
Another official said that the government considered a formal US apology important for pacifying growing anger within the rank and file of the army in particular and the public in general.
“The US step may be symbolic but the government needs [an apology] to save its face, so it can get on with business as usual,” the official told The Express Tribune.
He said the administration of President Barack Obama appears to have now understood Pakistan’s position and accepted the fact that “gone are the days when they only dealt with certain individuals”.
Last month, The New York Times reported that the US planned to move past the deadly air strike in Pakistan and reboot diplomatic relations, but the plan was stymied by riots in Afghanistan set off by the burning of copies of the holy Quran at a Nato base.
Under a carefully coordinated plan, the military had planned for Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin E Dempsey to make a formal apology via telephone to Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
But the move was apparently delayed at the request of the Pakistani government, which wanted the American apology to coincide with the joint sitting of Parliament.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS (32)
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Never trust untrustworthy and incredible US' leaders' this hypocritical,embellished and fabricated statement of "apology over Salala check post".
When you learn how to live like a dog, any bone that is thrown at you is a fair deal. Pakistanis are paying for electing crooks
Not only the apology should come from barrak obama but he should also announce adequate compensation for the survivors of the dead soldiers. Their blood should not go in waste.
The raid was carried out with typical U.S./NATO arrogance, and General Mathis from Cent Com did his best to back slide out of the quagmire, they had deliberately created, with obfuscation and unbelievable rhetoric, which the Pakistan military and Government did not buy. Now, with the price of supplies into Afghanistan increasing at an incredible rate a senior general will apologize. However, words are cheap. Does this mean that the U.S. will stop killing innocent Pakistani citizens, and start providing compensation for the several thousand that have been killed, severely wounded or incapacitated?
Yeah great, that's how steadfast you should be when it comes to the national dignity and honour . Good strong behaviour by our pride PAK ARMY.
begging for apology?
apology my foot, give those involved in unprovoked attack to us and we will deal with them accorsing to law of land.... no apology acceptable
Apology delayed is apology unaccepted. Its not justice anyway.
A tit for tat is the only way forward. let us kill 24 Americans or Nato soldiers. this is what our religion says in matters concerning murder. no other way is possible but oh our so called patriotic leaders(ARMY and PARLIAMENT) have already finalized the deal. Shame
After your Parliament gets through bashing America I doubt you will get the time of day - let alone an apology.
......so the apology is subject to the outcome of the Parliament debate........is that an apology worth accepting.
@MarkH: No one ever means it. That's diplomacy.
“The apology may come from the highest level and will be offered during or soon after the joint session of Parliament, which is scheduled to open a debate today on new terms of engagement (with the US),” a senior leader in the PPP-led ruling coalition told The Express Tribune
The Pakistani politicians keep saying lots of things. They even said Osama was not in Pakistan and that Kasab was not a Pakistani. Not much credibility to bank on
We don't need their bogus apology after all.. Pak should demand that the involved US commander who ordered the air strike should be put on trial and sentenced according to the international law for murdering our soldiers intentionally, otherwise NATO supplies MUST remain stopped.
will believe it when see it
@ Thoughtful:
The sentiment is likewise... no one trusts America, and that's a ground reality!
No America we dont accept ur apology
An apology from President Obama to the Pakistan govt will be the end of his reelection campaign. Although America needs the transit rout, the people of America do not trust or like Pakistan. Apologising for a transit route will be seen as an insult.
I've never understood why people demand apologies. If you have to ride them about it and they do it, it's just to shut you up. Not because they mean it.
unacceptable! The US stands exposed as a "People with no principles". And One does not deal with hypocrites [lesson no 1 of Quran]
"But the move was apparently delayed at the request of the Pakistani government, which wanted the American apology to coincide with the joint sitting of Parliament."
This shows that our government has been lying to the people all along.
It is still not an apology but only a "we will not do or will not happen again" and then why to Ashfaq Kiyani - he does not represent the people of Pakistan, he is only the servant. I am not convinced by this. We need compensations for the victims, in par with what they would have given to their own people, and a public apology to the Pakistani people.
Pretty good comment. Yes, they must unequivocally punish those responsible for wanton murder without any delay. Salams to Pakistan
Apology rejected , Apology after 6 month of 24 cold blooded murders is more of an insult. Pack your bags n go back US
a little too late don't you think? Apology is an apology and doesn't matter when it comes, but it does help when its right after the incident or not too long after it unlike in this case where I think people won't really accept this apology (the govt will no doubt) but i don't think the regular pakistan would truly accept this apology
ROFL, How easy it is for Pakistan to forget its 24 soldiers who were killed that day. What a shame.
what difference it would make ....??? US is the beneficiary here and this official apology they will get them all the access to nato supply route .... and we will suck the apology like a lolly pop and feel proud .... I dont know when are we going to learn ...
The apology will go a long way in helping US to get out of ‘Afghan quagmire’ and in shaping international relations on new lines. Pakistan also must grab the opportunity to facilitate the process of stability in Afghanistan, for stability in Afghanistan is crucial for Pakistan than even for Afghanistan. Globalization of KRID and opportunities to be offered by region are immense and irresistible. We have let generations to die in hunger and humiliation, no more of it further. Lip service to religion and Pakistan have deprived millions of their dignity and right to live as human being.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin E Dempsey to make a formal apology via telephone to Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani?????
Is that a joke? The apology should be from Obama to the people of pakistan and it should be televised.
What they did was murder, it was no accident. Punish those involved as only justice can serve as an apology.