ISLAMABAD: Richard A Hoagland, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Islamabad said on Friday that no new agreement had been signed on the reopening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) ground supply line through Pakistan and neither was it going to happen in the future.
He was speaking to media after attending a pre-departure orientation session for the winners of Fulbright scholarships for 2013.
“We welcome Pakistan’s step to reopen the key ground supply line through its border for the NATO forces without demanding any charge. This will further rebuild the Pakistan-US relations,” said Hoagland.
“There is no need to sign a new agreement as we have resumed our relations from the point where we had left in November last year,” he added.
“This route is essential for NATO countries but also crucial for Afghanistan,” said the diplomat.
Hoagland added that it was the outcome of several months’ long intensive negations between the two countries and would strengthen trust and rebuild stalled relations.
“Both sides have agreed to work together as there are many areas to be discussed and issues to be settled,” he remarked.
Responding to a question pertaining to the serious criticism of the US media for tendering an apology on the Salala attack, the diplomat said that this was the election year in the United States and media hype is a natural thing. He added that everything which is being highlighted in the media is not true.
When he was asked whether the US has taken up the issue of Dr Shakil Afridi and the alleged harassment of US diplomats at the hands of Pakistani security officials during the recent negotiation with the Pakistani authorities, he replied saying that such things were being discussed regularly.
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“There is no need to sign a new agreement as we have resumed our relations from the point where we had left in November last year,” he added. Please first act upon and fulfill the commitments/promises honestly and sincerely written in the current agreement few days ago.
Besides all that has been done yet,the question arises "Would this step be in favour of PAKISTAN?"
@sashayub: Congrst. Your right.
so, in essence this means that Pakistan will not be charging more for each passing truck!
Why you need an agreement when you can coerce!!!! Remember Richard armitage after 9/11 threatening Gen. Musharraf to bomb Pakistan to stone age, if this is the way you get your work done with Pakistan why bother the Foreign office clerk with paper work.
The one thing consistent about Pakistan announcements -- you only have to wait a few days to discover that they are either left some important things out or were dead wrong. What happened to all that "black and white" stuff where you were going to put everything in writing"
Isn't this statement by the US chief of Mission "opposite" to the Ambassador of Pakistan claimed few day ago? what is US trying to say perhaps is. " Its my way or the Hi way to Pakistan"