The United States said on Monday it was withdrawing its team of negotiators from Pakistan without securing a long-sought deal on supply routes for the war in neighbouring Afghanistan, publicly exposing a diplomatic stalemate and deeply strained relations that appear at risk of deteriorating further.
"If the civilian government in Islamabad would bite the bullet and make the political decision to open the ground lines of communication, that would deflect some of the negativity right now," the official told Reuters.
"It wouldn't automatically turn things around but that would be an important step."
Pakistan banned trucks from carrying supplies to the war effort in Afghanistan last year in protest against a cross-border Nato air attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, a measure US officials initially hoped would be short term.
Although the US official suggested Pakistan would have to take several steps to repair heavily damaged ties, he said the strategic allies could not afford a rupture.
"We have longer-term interests that we must keep in mind. The interests are nuclear, it is counterterrorism and it is also reconciliation in Afghanistan for a relatively peaceful and stable region," said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"So you know, the heightened sentiments in Washington will eventually have to come to a point where people say hold on, we have bigger interests here."
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Pakistan has always bitten more than it could chew. Now the world superpower has awakened to pak duplicity and is asking pak to bite the "bullet". that is a sensible thing to restart relations. Otherwise pak will resemble Afganistan in the next few months. Army chief is quiet. Chief Justice is in corruption trouble, Zardari is having the last laugh, and America is getting more angry. Best not to test US patience. Pak is a small fry and USA the worlds only superpower. Bravado and delusion are self destructing. Pak seems to holding a trigger to its own head!
We bit the bullet hard with Raymond Davis Case, its your turn USA.
Why don't you give same advice to your own government?
Why do not the Americans bit the bullet and apologies for the Salala misadventure that killed dozen of Pakistani soldiers?
@karma: Instead of writing such a Long Useless solution to which you are not even a party will not serve you much. It's waste of our time and yours. You could better spend this time by thinking about solutions to the NAXAL Terrorists who have been playing Havoc with your security forces for years now. Go find some solution for them and then present it here. Else I will will give you few suggestion. Your Own House is On fire and you are out to give suggestions to others. LOL @Blunt!: Where is the Body Of OBL? Without Proof , No one accept anything. Produce the Body and then come back o argue.Without clear evidence we do not hear anything from you. Go find it out. LOL. I am sure you can not provide any proof for OBL's death in 2011. Here is something interesting for you. [http://www.presstv.ir/detail/238593.html I will suggest the entire Video you watch carefully but Specially watch from Minute 10:30 - 12;45. Enjoy Indi Boy.!!
All America has to do is stop treating Pakistan, one of the largest countries in the world, like a junior partner in its own country and the situation would improve tremendously.
First of all we are not interested in easing tensions with the US. It is the US that has been raising hue and cry and howling and pressuring Pakistan non stop to open the routes. So I guess it is the US that needs to give in or otherwise resort to the more expensive Central Asian routes. The feeling I get it is that there are certain elements close to the DoD and Pentagon, who are trying to sabotage the progress White House and Pakistan are making over the routes. The US army is arrogant and in no way wants to be seen to be the one apologise. But again they have no choice!!
Here are possible outcomes:
a) Pakistan will cave in and open the route on US terms US$500-1000 per truck. USA will continue to give some aid to Pakistan till it completes major withdrawal. After that Pakistan will be subjected to conditional Aid and conditional market access to western nations. It has to play a good boy, or it'll be punished by restricting opportunities.
b) Pakistan doesn't give in - USA will rely mostly on northen route. Will either declare Pakistan an enemy state, and treat it as such. Sanctions, denial of aid, technology & Market will follow immediately. US will sponsor or support resolutions in UNSC against Pakistan on issues of Kashmir, Baluchistan etc.
c) Obama looses election, and the new President thinks he can win over Pakistan. US-Pakistan dance of deceit continues for another 3yrs before new president gives up on Pakistan.
@Blunt!: Kindly look up the meaning of "INVASION" in dictionary, before making such pompous statements.
**Why not the US should bite the bullet, and apologize to Pakistan for the cowardly attack on the Pak soldiers, as well as for the US defense secretary' arrogant statements.
well said!
You killed Pakistani Soldiers .... And you are not willing to Apologize... Why .... Are you (US) Human.... NO NO NO
Then you (US) should bite the bullet.
@Sadia:
Why did US invade Pakistan? Wot was the primary motive behind it? To get OBL?
So who is winning the war here?
P.S - Not to forget US is helping Afghanistan big time by removing taliban.
It was relatively peaceful before the invasion!!!!
@C. Nandkishore: So why the big bully hasn't won the war after 10 years. US should have won easily against the rag tags. There is something called balls
All of a sudden the Pakistani media seem to have forgotten their till-recent shrill opposition to drone attacks. They now only talk of 'apology' and an enhanced 'toll fee'. The real thorn in the flesh seems to have become a side issue. Good for the world in general,as that is something Pakistan will not achieve in the foreseeable future..
just bite the bullet and apologise for killing 24 pakistani soldiers if not killing hundreds directly and thousands indirectly, and compensate for every soldier at the rate of WTC or lockerbie
Clearly Pakistan is the weaker of the two. A big bully gets the way, a small bully gets kicked around. Pakistan is fully dependent on USA. USA controls IMF and WB and also textile trade. Textiles make 54% of Pakistan exports. China, Russia and KSA do not import textiles from Pakistan. And don't depend on Iran. As a one time policy it may jolly open Chabbar port to remove the hardware from neighboring Afghanistan.
Its now absolutely clear that the obstinate / arrogant USA is not willing to throw even a few crumbs or a fig leaf for our face saving inspite of the fact that we have almost reconciled to lack of apology and continued drone attacks.
Therefore its time to bite the bullet and try standing on our two feet. We can tolerate all sorts of hardships provide the elite forego its priveleged life style for a limited period of readjustment.
I do not belong to the Ghairat Brigade but a pragmetic liberal.
“We have longer-term interests that we must keep in mind. The interests are nuclear.." ..HAH! Did we not know that?!?
Be careful if some one is trying to open the routes. US has the habit of spreading ammunition while leaving the war zones. This eventually will be used in streets of neighboring countries to destroy the regional peace. This time "let the firing person bite the bullet". Let US pull out using the routs from other countries if other countries are willing to jeopardize their own peace and stability. US has the means to pull out, she can airlift every thing at her own cost. We have done enough for them & people suffer a lot.
An apology is must and it should be offered without any condition. BTW there is a saying that Justice delayed is synonymous to just denied. So opening the supply routes must be clearly linked with national interest. There is nothing free in this world. So they have to pay the price of the services instead of giving cheap cash. Pakistan must protect its strategic interests. Its the time to stand united for our homeland.
They want us to open the routes, and threatening at the same time :) Interesting "Badmashi"
we don't need youn uncle sam! Just leave us
America is like a huge elephant acting like a sick bully!!!
After supporting Israel for all its international Law breaking activities it has also started on the same sick criminal methods.
Perhaps that is why it is said "You are known by the friends you have"
If the civilian government in Washington would bite the bullet and make the political decision to apologise, that would deflect some of the negativity right now. It wouldn't automatically turn things around but that would be an important step.
Apology for killing our 24 soldiers will help Pakistan to give the way! also it will help to change the developing negative perception about US/NATO in Pakistan.
How about US government biting the bullet and saying sorry!
Just bite the bullet and accept our terms :)
off course we should bite the bullet and tell you straight up ke raste band raheNgey!