With Nato extending an invitation to Pakistan to attend the meeting earlier in the week, and slew of ‘politically positive’ statements coming from Islamabad, it was expected that perhaps a deal would be struck before the Chicago moot got underway on Sunday.
However, as Rhodes travelled to Chicago, he told reporters that that there was no bilateral meeting scheduled between President Zardari and President Obama. He added that the only bilateral meeting the US President has scheduled is with the Afghan president Hamid Karzai. The frost between US and its chief ally in the War on Terror continues, for now.
According to a pool report, Rhodes said that negotiations for reopening the supply lines are ongoing. “We believe this is going to be resolved. We expect that to take some time. Based on the statements they’ve made, the negotiations going on, we believe it’s going to be accomplished. We’re not anticipating necessarily closing out those negotiations this weekend.”
On Friday, Pakistan had allowed four containers carrying office supplies for the US embassy in Kabul to cross over from Pakistan, onto the Afghan side of the Durand Line. This was the first consignment to make it through in six months after Pakistan had shut borders with Afghanistan after Nato airstrikes targeted a Pakistan check post and killed 24 soldiers with ‘friendly fire’.
COMMENTS (15)
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It looks supply route was not that big a card. Closing of these routes has not caused a ripple in Washington.US will probably bring a dispute against Pakistan and manuevre a decision in their favour.After all an apology has no legal basis . Pakistan should have sought compensation which the norm in international law.
Why did Zardari travel to the Nato-Summit in Chicago, if he couldn't have a bilateral talk with Obama? Was Zardari the right person to attend the meeting? Hasn't Pakistan a more important role to play in the region than just blocking the supply route to Afghanistan?
@Nasir:
What killed the remaining 4000 Pakistan soldiers? Unintentional killing by unfriendly fire or target practicing by bad Taliban?
Vienna,May 20,2012 "Friendly fire" is caused by errors of judgment.Errors on both sides as spelled out by the Americans after investigating November 26 Salala events.Pakistan insists it was because of the U.S duplicity! Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM --Kulamarva Balakrishna
"Friendly Fire" Shame on ET for writing Friendly Fire for intentional killing of Pakistani solders.
@Mirza: I can understand your frustration for not opening the NATO route till now.
@Qaiser Farooq: "...well it is a good stand Pakistan took, let us see how long it can be maintained." The more pertinent question is: Does Pakistan have the stamina to keep standing and play this Russian roulette? And what about post NATO withdrawal? How is Pakistan going to survive the harvest it is about to reap from its betrayal and duplicity?
"US does not expect resolution of Nato supply route during Chicago summit" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ US does expect resolution of Nato supply route during 2020.
@Qaiser Farooq: 'friendly fire means killing allies?' GHQ has admitted that that it supports Haqqani group and in turn the same group kills USA/NATO and Afghans. Would you call it 'friendly fire means killing allies?.
@Qaiser Farooq: The pakistani army fired first hence the incident.
" friendly fire" ?? was it a friendly fire that put the relationship between two countries on lowest ebb and made pakistan block the supply line? friendly fire means killing allies? there are issues to be resolved before the supply line is restored..the foremost is the payment of 5000 USD/container..and the strong assurances that Salala incident will never be repeated again..well it is a good stand Pakistan took, let us see how long it can be maintained.
There is too much froth that does not make sense. Conflicting statements are coming from Nato and in Pakistan. Either it is a giant Topi Drama, or big time victory of Nato. Which is it?? ET get some of your men to tell us what really is going on and what role is HH playing???
The US should not expect any resumption of Nato supplies for a few more months. Sherry Rehman has been belicose on demands in the US and rehman Malik in Pakistan. Leaves little for Zardari to say.
If the US wants a resolution to this, they should talk directly to the army chief Kayani. Everybody knows who has the real powers in Pakistan. In fact Kayani was invited but he hid behind. Like after OBL's killing the generals and ISPR have disappeared and hiding behind "all of a sudden elected parliament". It were the generals and ISPR after Salala attack how have started this and were very vocal like against Kerry-Lugar Bill. In the same way they have disappeared from the scene with no talk of Salala Shaheed! The elected Govt should not take the full blame and learn from HH episode when he shamelessly supported the army role and Pakistan in the US, but what happened?