“We can make strong requests, we can give advice, we can seek cooperation, but we cannot make a demand on a sovereign nation,” Hoagland said during an exclusive interview to Express News.
“When Secretary Clinton [during her last visit to Pakistan] said that we would like to see Pakistan ‘squeeze’ the Haqqani network [in North Waziristan], there is a real fine distinction that it’s not a demand,” he stressed.
Recent reports of a joint Pak-US military operation in North Waziristan had caused panic among the locals who fled the area by the thousands.
Pakistan Army's Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani too has denied reports of a joint military operation but maintained that an operation might be launched when necessary.
The armed forces have been conducting aerial raids in parts of the tribal areas along with some targeted ground action to combat militants.
COMMENTS (22)
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Some of the comments made by fellow pakistanis are best examples you would ever find for a nation with low self esteem and pessimism.
all this time your have been asking US to respect your sovereignty. Now that some one has made a statement towards that, instead of considering it the first moment of respect towards many to come, people a putting negative comments to undermine themselves as nation. No wonder pakistanis facing what it is facing now.
"We do not cannot make demands on Pakistan-US ambassador" Much the best,excellent and august statement but would you like to explain truly,honestly and sincerely that till now how much and how many times you have pressed Pakistan to fulfill your demands even unlawful and illegal??????
Its nice to know that the new US Ambassador has good sense of humor......
They will not make a demand. They have a "Do it yourself" attitude like the one they did to Osama. Don't be surprized if any terror attack traced back to Waziristan, they will do what they want to do. Pakistan can do nothing about it other than be a blind spectator.
Mr.Ambassador, you got to be kidding, right? Iraq was a sovereign country, look what have we done there, how many thousands we have killed over there on the pretext of WMD. All we do is threaten them with no aid unless they do what we tell them and they just fall in line like good satraps and Pakistani government is no exception.
on which land ?? dear ambassador
@Batman: deeds are not judged in isolation but in context. If you and your countrymen can't accept that then you've become prey to endless political manipulations simply on the basis of who can talk and who can't.
Mr. Ambassador, do you think we are fools? You guys act as if you are the Viceroy of USA to Pakistan, not the Ambassador. We have seen you do it time and again. Dont mock our intelligence.
All the Gold in Rome could not save Rome. Investment in Pakistan social sector like primary school programs, promoting libraries, career oriented institutes, opening up American Centers will help strengthen democratic ideals. Lets start by demolishing many sky high walls around your embassy and consulates in Pakistan. Embrace Pakistan.
Hypocracy is a best revenge
defeat the extremists both US and pak should shake hands together and be serious
@Yo!! oh no, they want us to believe that - They KNOW that we are fools !
lol they still want us to believe we are fools.
coz "we do it all by ourself - Whenever We Want and Whatever We Want" !
HAHA..what a joke! You can bomb 2 countries to the stone ages. You can run as many drone operations as you want. You can fly in your helicopters, conduct a military operation in the middle of a city. And then you can come on the press and say "we cannot make a demand on a sovereign nation".
because you are about to leave?
Americans have wizened up and they seem to realize who should give what message. . They know how to play Pakistan's game.
You do not make demands on a sovereign nation --- and yet you attack same "sovereign country" every day with drones! Hypocrisy at its best!
Surely, you do not make demands but issue orders to be carried out by Pakistan explicitly failing which -------.
Smart Operator..!