ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wants to move beyond the Salala incident and improve ties with the US, said Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Monday.
“We want to play a role of a facilitator as far as peace and stability in Afghanistan is concerned,” she said, adding that Pakistan has never charged its War on Terror allies for using its land routes to run supplies.
Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad, Khar said that the talks with the US are heading in a positive direction.
“Both, Pakistan and Nato want peace in the region,” she stated.
The foreign minister said the government had sought an unconditional apology from the US, over the Salala checkpost incident in which 24 Pakistani soldiers had been killed, as had been demanded by the Parliament in a policy review, and that this subject has been taken up with US authorities at all levels.
Pakistan is expected to take a final decision about Nato supply route next week when the Defence Committee of the Cabinet meets to discuss the issue.
The decision would also pave the way for Pakistan’s participation in the Chicago summit which would discuss the Afghan endgame. Diplomats on both sides have been keen to resolve the impasse between Islamabad and Washington before the summit on May 21-22.
It is also to be noted that in late April, the US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Marc Grossman also visited Islamabad and held discussions with the top government and military echelon.
COMMENTS (56)
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It is important to analyze American difficulties because for the last twenty years or so America has ensured that their problems become Pakistan problems. and then senior American politicians, and lessor ones, have the gall to constantly criticize the Pakistan Government for not solving those problems America has created. On top of this it is interesting to note how many comments, supporting America, are written by people with names which could only come from South Asia. .
@Shahzore Farid: Why do we spend all the time to analyse the American difficulties and their failures etc. Our concern should be the interest of Pakistan and resolving our own problems.
@Pakistan politics: Very wise advice. Sure you are the only true well wisher who will finally bring peace and prosperity to Pakistan.
After a hiatus of nearly six months, Pakistan civilian Government and military junta agreed to reopen the NATO supply line with out US official apology to be offered to Pakistan and the termination of the drone attacks on Pakistan’s territory. The reasons that were forwarded by the Government appear flimsy and the United States and NATO accepted no fundamental demand put forward by Pakistan for the resumption of the logistics through Pakistan. It looks that Pakistan has achieved nothing in the past six months than merely working on even much lower salary than before. As a matter of fact, Pakistan would attend the NATO Chicago Summit to be started on 20 May in the United States. When Pakistan boycotted the Bonn Summit in protest of its soldiers’ killings on 26 November last, the attendance of the Chicago Summit would likely to yield no outcome to promote its interests against war on terror.
One should not overlook and undermine or underplay the implications for the reopening of the NATO supply line. However, one thing could be certain: that is public anguish and deteriorating law and order and security situation in the country at least up to the framing of the next elected Government early next year. The threat from militants is looming large. The support from a number of parliamentary and out of parliamentary political parties and interest groups would try to hijack the situation to seek the sympathies of their constituencies during the up-coming ballot. Dr Ahmad Rashid Malik - Islamabad
@Singh: China is the power being mentioned. If you think india is the power, stop being delusional
@Qaiser Farooq, .."Because,in the long run, We will have to sign the printed version without any ammendment"
Is Afghanistan your colony? Do you have the means to do so? Can you settle down Baluchistan, Sindudesh, Pashtonistan, Karchi problems. Of course you can sponser few mollas to terrorise innocent afghans or Indians or blast schools, hotels or bridges in Afghanistan & India but nothing more. Thats why the World community is isolating Pakistan until it learn not to use terror for foreign policy achievements. If you are still not sure, Mollas hate you much as Indian. Few bandits of Haqanis is what you got but be careful with them as well, if you can buy them with your meagre resources, why cant others. Take it easy & just relax within your means. The game is over, no more terrorists sponsership is what the world want to see, nothing more or less.
If jud doesnt do anything about this i will considef them fake muslims just trying to gain support in the name of islam.
The lady became minister at the age of 25....she has learnt politics a lot since then
all the establishment's bluffs are being called one after another - does anybody feel any embarrasment?
its better to strengthen our economic backbone. country like us desperately needs powerful and honest leader. otherwise these incidences about to come in future more frequently
Khar you should have courage to say this before relatives and loved ones of Salala Shaheeds.
By making this decision atleast the rumour mills will stop churning for a while..All eyes are set on Chicago Conference..I would suggest pakistani leadership and military establishment to reach a decision where both agree to sign blank sheets and give them to USA allowing the latter to write whatever agreement they want regarding the future of Afghanistan..Because,in the long run, We will have to sign the printed version without any ammendment.
Well the clash of nerves have come to an end..we blocked supply for more than 3 months waiting USA to apologise and assure not to violate the territorial sovereignty of Pakistan..resolutions were passed in Parliament..Recommendations for charting out the planks of establishing new relationship with USA etc etc..All has come to an end..Neither USA apologised for the massacre of 24 pakistani soldiers nor drone attacks stopped violating the " territorial integrity " of Pakistan..what to say or do..we have to submit to US pressure to support our crumbling economy and to save us from being isolated globally and to have some face-saving so that Pakistan becomes a stakeholder in Afghan crisis..every time the sentiments of our nation are humiliated, why the heck did you block US supplyline at the first place when you knew that this decision couldn't be sustained for a longer period..Leaders build the nations whether they are dictators or democracy loving lot..Mao, Stalin,Hitler,F.D.Roosevelt, Quaid e Azam, Mahatma Gandhi, Mahatir Mohammad, Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussain etc..the lot of the leaders we have indicates that Pakistan is in search of true leadership..Woh bahadur tha magar haray huay lashkar main tha.( He was valiant but belonged to a vanquished army).
@logic wins:
it is people like you and the views you hold that scare "ordinary" Pakistani's.
@Pakistan politics:
and what about the Muslims that "freedom fighters" kill? They just beheaded 20 of them and stuck two heads on a pole.
@Ashraf P:
No this is what happens when your foreign policy is dictated by the military.
@jock: "Pakistan, despite Khar’s rantings, will not open supply routes without an unequivocal apology. This you and all your ‘likes’ will see."
We won't have to wait too long. The meetings are on May 15 and 16. We will see what happens then. Most of the world knows that Pakistan will get a little more money and nothing else - no apology, no stoppage of drones and supply routes will be reopened. You and many more like you were used by your establishment as a negotiating tool for your army. SO now that the army has decided it is not going to get anything more by getting you all in the street, t has asked the civilians to do an about turn.
You will see that JuD/DPC which are an extension of the ISI will only make token protests. Same thing with Imran.
Old Habits Die Hard... :)
How much did the US pay to buy her this time?
Correct statement is: "The Government wants to move beyond Salala incident: Khar" This clarification is for trolls who are overly concerned with Pakistani news and then they wonder................................
In exchange for seat at the Chicago Conference table Madam FM what do you bring to the table? This is how the global community sees Pakistan: Credibility for honest facilitator: Do not have it Control over the Non State Actor (Haqqani) in Afghanistan: Do not have it Control over Hafeez Saeed etc.: Do not have it Control over the border with Afghanistan: Do not have it Money for development in Afghanistan: Do not have it Respect for the sovereignty of Afghanistan: Do not have it Willing to give up strategic depth in Afghanistan: No Apology to US for blocking NATO: Not sure yet Decision to open NATO supply route under the threat of Terrorism accountability bill: Most likely
It seems orders have come from 'higher up' to announce surrender. When it comes to announce and take blame for such things, let the civil government take all the blame!
@V Sharma: It seeems you love your comment a lot...what you've been seeing for quite some time in terms of NATO-blockage is in fact the other option chosen by Pakistan. Pakistan, despite Khar's rantings, will not open supply routes without an unequivocal apology. This you and all your 'likes' will see.
GOP continued the Salala incident stalemate far too long than international norms permit. The Pak FM statement is a positive move and war against terror must continue with full vigour.
@someone: Its time muslims started an islamic caliphate in each and every muslim country, made an islamic countries trade bloc
will the saudis and other gulf sheikhdoms declare that their oil wealth belongs to all muslims and distribute the wealth to poor countries like Pakistan?
@someone:
That wasn't a policy planning leak. That was an officer that attempted to teach hate for Islam under the umbrella that he was teaching about Islam. His class was shut down immediately upon being discovered and he is now under administrative review. Please don't spread lies and spread hate. Calling that a policy leak. Have some shame.
@Pakistan politics: all regional powers support Pakistan’s role in Afghan war. Can you name one?
Why am I not suprised. Now that America is threatning Pak with sanctions,they have no choice but to move beyond the salala incident. If there is a cut in aid to pak, how would these politicians fill their pockets and lead their usual 'SHAHAANA' lifestyle.
Pakistan better not open nato supply routes. They are the enemy of Islam and muslims. The US army's leaked course on planning a total war on islam, wiping out entire muslim population and using nuclear missiles/bombs on holy cities Makkah and Madina like the hiroshima attack were revealed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18030105 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/pentagon-instructor-urged-total-war-with-islam-7737807.html even after this leak, if khar opens the supply routes then that openly means this govt is an ally of the enemies of Islam. Its time muslims started an islamic caliphate in each and every muslim country, made an islamic countries trade bloc and made a United Islamic Army to protect ourselves and our holy cities.
Looks like Pakistan is 'desperate' to open NATO routes. What an irony.
@Ah: We can survive without aid but cant with getting blood of innocents on our hands
@True Muslim Paki: "This will also help since all political parties (PPP, PML (N), MQM have armed groups & JuD can provide that support!"
I thought JuD was a charitable organization and had nothing to do with LeT which was a jihadi organization. So how come JuD can provide armed support? See the contradiction between various claims and statements?
Pakistans economy does not depend on aid money because the gilanis are siphoning
So frankly there is no card
The leaders stopped representing the country after SC
The Pakistani people are opposed to supply routes, and this illegitimate government should try to open them
The supply line will not be opened
@Khan: we have been badly affected by taking part in afghan war, Pakistan can make them to pack their bags early, US is threatening Pakistan that it would not be invited to a conference to decide the future of Afghanistan and PPP is just trying to fool the nation that it would be bad for Pakistan for not being part of it, but there is nothing that US can do in Afghanistan without the support of Pakistan they can not blackmail us if we take a strong stand all regional powers support Pakistan's role in Afghan war.
Our ghairat is a pretty lazy thing: took years to wake up and is going back to sleep within 6 months or so.
Twenty four humans lost their lives which is extremely sad and victims relatives have the sympathy of all of us but the demand of unconditional apology from US will not bring back to life those brave soldiers.The option which has precedence is monetary compensation to the bereaved families. It is heartening to know from the lady foreign minister that all parties to current stand off have decided to resolve the issues in days.
@Pakistan politics: Who are we to ask them to pack their bags? You should really consider changing your name to Afghanistan politics as people who put interest of other countries above the interest and future of Pakistan should not use this country's name ever. Afghanistan has its own government run by their own people and we should refrain from poking our nose in their affairs before some one cut it in to pieces.
Want to move on or want to forget??????
@True Muslim Paki: armed groups? are u insane
We salute the courage of Afghan freedom fighters who have been fighting to liberate their land from invaders and savages, This is such a shameless act that we are gonna provide NATO a life line for killing the Afghan Muslims, what a shame
we will regret in future if we resume their supplies nation must stand against these corrupts, looters and thugs who are sitting in their air conditioned rooms playing with emotions of the people, Get out of this unnatural alliance for god sake
NATO and USA has made the world more unsafe, Stop waging wars for ur wicked agendas named as strategic interests peace will prevail, Supplies should not be resumed and NATo should pack their bags
Dear Mis khar NATO deosnt want peace in the region if they wanted they wouldn't have invaded Afghanistan now their backs have been beaten by Taliban and they are yelling at Pakistan. khar should speak what the nation wants her to speak, We must not resume the supplies at any cost
"Pakistan wants to move beyond Salala incident: Khar". Well they dont have no other options, do they. Their bluff has been called. They WILL open the G-LOCs.
We should remove words like Ghairat, Imaan from our books all over Pakistan! IK & hafeezsaeed must declare an alliance & start protests of any means. The time is ripe for a announcing alliance since both PTI, DPC (JuD) have the same objectives. This will also help since all political parties (PPP, PML (N), MQM have armed groups & JuD can provide that support!
Pakistan is in a real fix now. After hinging the entire foreign policy on the single Salala incident, it is finding it hard to find a way out. The Americans are not playing ball because they know Pakistan's economy is crumbling and without the aid money it might well collapse. This is what happens when you let the media dictate foreign policy.