As Grossman arrives, high-level huddle finalises strategy
Ahead of interactions between Pakistani and American officials, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani chaired a high-powered meeting, which was attended by key ministers as well as Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam.
“The meeting took stock of the recent developments in the region. They discussed matters related to Afghan peace and reconciliation and new terms of re-engagement with US/Nato/Isaf in accordance with the recommendations of parliament,” said a statement issued by the Prime Minister House.
This was the second gathering of civil and military leadership in less than 10-days and was aimed at evolving a consensus on how to move forward after the US voiced reservations over some of the demands made by parliament.
All issues will figure in the talks when US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman, who is leading a delegation of senior officials, meets the country’s top leadership.
Grossman is the first senior American official to travel to Islamabad after parliament passed a new foreign policy framework that seeks to redefine the country’s relationship with Washington.
Grossman will hold formal talks with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani. He will also meet Prime Minister Gilani and Army Chief Gen Kayani.
Ahead of Grossman’s visit, US Ambassador Cameron Munter dashed to Karachi on Wednesday and held an important meeting with President Zardari.
Sources familiar with the development say the two discussed the likely fallout of the Supreme Court’s verdict against the prime minister on efforts to reset ties between the two countries.
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The US scuttled the loan offered by the Russians and chinese for the iran pakistan pipe line. This is what i have been warning in these forums. If you mess with the US and play games with them, they will get at you from multiple angles and the most devastating angle is the prevention of international institutions from lending money to pakistan. Pakistan needs to clean up its act or its going to face a situations which will make the current situation look like a nice dream. Just learn from what happened in iraq BEFORE the invasion. Pakistan can get away without paying much of a price when playing games with india but USA is totally another ball game. Choose your foes more carefully than your friends.
@Zaid Hamid: brothe, kindly forgive mullahs, why you always pull them in every debate, ever include a pandit???
Probably never dawned on them that the USA might say "thanks but no". All that posturing has put you in an embarrassing position which makes every compromise look like a failure.
@How?: Have you ever heard of Internet Trolls??. Your comment fits to that definition as well. I am sick of the so called Attention seekers mummy daddy secularists like you who dont even know the definition of Secularism and for them it is a cool thing to be secular but other than that have no idea what this is all about. Please avoid off topic messages and stop this trolling thing altogether.
Mr. Prime Minister the only thing the United States expects from us is to quit for good playing on both side of the road.
Nice picture. Is JI going to have rallies for vulgarity since the PAK delegations are wearing suits and not National dress?
If the ISI Chief and Army Chief have to be present in every meeting involving the PM and President then why not throw in a few Mullahs also?
They all have the same policies anyway.
Supreme Court verdict is going to be against the sitting Prime Minister and therefore he has to step down after his conviction.
As regards to the policy with US is concerned, there will be another meeting of the top civilian and military brass, which will be chaired by the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.