Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will soon visit Washington in an effort to chalk out a ‘clear-cut’ deal on the relationship between the two countries, a Pakistani diplomat posted in Washington told The Express Tribune.
This will be the first visit by a senior Pakistani official to Washington since the lifting of the seven-month long blockade of the Nato transit routes.
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton had invited Khar during a meeting on the fringes of the recent Afghan conference in Tokyo, the official said. “The foreign minister accepted the invitation and dates of the visit are being finalised.”
Khar will meet with key US officials, including Clinton, to thrash out details of an agreement for future cooperation between the two allies.
An agreement on Nato routes will be one of the key issues, the official said, adding that a ‘clear-cut’ deal would be chalked out “covering each and every aspect of bilateral relations”.
Despite Washington’s initial reluctance, Islamabad is believed to have convinced the Obama administration of entering into a written agreement identifying not only areas of cooperation, but also ‘no-go’ areas.
“There are several bilateral issues which need immediate attention,” said another Pakistani official requesting anonymity. He added: “Islamabad was keen to revive the stalled strategic dialogue to ensure that Pak-US ties are not merely confined to security cooperation.”
The strategic dialogue, which covers a wide range of issues from Pakistan’s energy needs to its health and education sectors, was initiated by the Obama administration.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2012.
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@Sultan Ahmed: "Our foreign minister is going to visit Washington,chance will be available on the table ,request can be made for provision the civil nuclear technology. over land supply routes has been opened on the request and American leadership looks in delightful mood on this so according to my considered opinion it will be golden chance for us to request for,there are hundred percent chance of success."
Your mindset has been shaped by your media that overstates Pakistan's importance and understates other people's options and leverage. This is why you see something which actually has no chance of coming through as an entitlement and describe it as having 100% likelihood of success.
@A Peshawary: "@ashok sai: If you are an Indian you can say as younger brother of your boss. India never faced with stick as it submits even before stick is raised. The result is the carrot automatically. "
Please read history. Which country was non-aligned and which country signed SEATO/CENTO pacts. Which country allowed itself to get radicalized by partnering with US in Afghan jihad in 1980s and which country stayed away. Which country got billions of dollars in aid and which country did not.
curbing terrorist is big issue for Pakistan. Ms. Khar should be focused on it.
"No Go Area'' I am trying to understand the correct meanings of the above-mentioned words. it mean no thoroughfare.? Tribal areas,including or excluding porous border/?
Pakistan is sovereign state ,it has tribal areas,such as Shawal and others bordering Afghanistan.
It is an admitted fact that safe havens of terrorists are spread both sides the borders ,for overcoming the insurgency both sides needs new strategy.It is very important and sensitive matter but will have to resolve.
According to my considered opinion,new written agreement granted no permission to Nato and American forces to strike the territory by drones comes under the Pakistani sovereignty it mean both signatory control their own borders respectively. In this way, Pakistan would have to compelled to DO MORE.
@Sultan Ahmed: "I hope,United States has learned more from the history"
Rest assure that US has learned a very big lesson in regards to Pakistan, over period of last 18 months. This relation is going to be dictated by US, regardless who is in White House as Pakistan has really lost any leverage they had since the OBL affair, supply route mess inaction against selected groups in NW etc.... In regards to Civil Nuclear Deal ! This is a straight non starter as Pakistan's past actions in regards to proliferation are not likely to be forgotten by any responsible Nation on the Planet ! Pakistan needs to start helping themselves first, by coming clean and being honest with themselves as to the actual state of affairs and their flawed policies first, before anyone is going to come to their assistance on the scale required for Pakistan to emerge from the mess they are in !
@Hegdefunder: Fully agreed with you,but a new chapter regarding the bilateral relations is going to open. I hope,United States has learned more from the history.
All the world,including The United States of American know that Pakistan is passing through a power crisis .He is facing tough circumstances and tremendous pressure on behalf of people of Pakistan.
Pakistan ,time and again,requested state department to provide civil nuclear technology so that country might overcome the power crisis but would have face refusal.
Our foreign minister is going to visit Washington,chance will be available on the table ,request can be made for provision the civil nuclear technology.
over land supply routes has been opened on the request and American leadership looks in delightful mood on this so according to my considered opinion it will be golden chance for us to request for,there are hundred percent chance of success.
@Sultan Ahmed: Written agreement is essential, verbal agreement is not an agreement it can be violated at any stage of the circumstances
Did Pakistan provide written agreement to USA in their partnership, in War on Terror ? As no doubt, they obviously had different agenda while accepting billions of $$$ and still were providing inflated bills for services not rendered !
I can already see Ms Khar declaring that " it was a very very successful visit" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Did she not say that after the Chicago Nato summit?
Written agreement is essential, verbal agreement is not an agreement it can be violated at any stage of the circumstances.
USA to Pakistan: Do more and beg less!!
@A Peshawary:
Its not a PESSIMIST remark my friend, it is a FACT of LIFE!!!!!
Normally a deal is discussed n sealed than only than practical steps take place. It's funny NATO supply now running, drones visiting Pakistan, NATO or USA none paying any fees for distraction of our roads, added corruption etc etc And after all this now FM is going to put agreement on the paper. Hellooooooo are we missing some think here!
Save the taxpayers money Maam , as there is no other deal to be chalked out ! Washington has already got their deal and are not likely to offer any other deals at present ! Pure waste of Taxpayer's money for your personal Sojourn !
A rewarded chill out tour for the job done!
@Iftikhar-ur-Rehman: What a passimist remarks? Peshawary
very good idea...that money can be used somewhere...
@GrimmJow:
Are you kidding? NO.
Clear cut deal = When are you going to give us more money ?
Stand in queue for Carrots, hope you won't forget I have a stick with me.
What is the use of these visits for a poor country when we have telephone and video conferencing available?
Poor woman is going to have grey hair soon - caught as she is between a rock and a hard place.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will soon visit Washington in an effort to chalk out a ‘clear-cut’ deal on the relationship between the two countries, OR CLEAR CUT **INSTRUCTIONS??
Has any truck crossed the border yet?
Pakistan must be one of the US closest ally, since there are so many state level visits involved from both the side so frequently.
"Clear-Cut Deal ??!! Deal of Bowl ,,,, ha-ha !