Pakistan wants to move beyond Salala incident: Khar

Foreign minister says Pakistan wants to play a role of a facilitator as far as Afghanistan is concerned.


Web Desk/kamran Yousaf May 14, 2012

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)

Sexton Blake | 11 years ago | Reply

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. .

VINOD | 11 years ago | Reply

@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.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ