WASHINGTON:
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has dubbed the anti-Islam film as “disgusting and repulsive”, but also condemned violent protests in Pakistan saying “violence cannot be tolerated”.
Speaking to reporters with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar before their scheduled meeting at the Department of State, Clinton thanked Pakistan’s government for its efforts to protect American embassy and Consulates.
She urged people everywhere to stand up and speak up against violence. She added that these protests should not be hijacked by people with extremist agendas.
Clinton said that while the past year and a half has been challenging for the Pakistan-US relationship, both countries still had work to do together.
“We can achieve more when we have a focused agenda,” Clinton said and added that she was looking forward to seeing President Asif Ali Zardari next week at the UN General Assembly in New York.
“Our shared priority remains joint counterterrorism objectives to ensure security of US and Pakistani citizens.”
Thanking Foreign Minister Khar for reopening the Nato supply routes, Clinton said they would talk about Afghanistan, especially on the meeting of the safe passage working group.
Clinton added that she agreed that the US needed to shift from aid to trade and investment in Pakistan, and expressed hope that a bilateral investment treaty would be finalised soon.
Khar said the condemnation of the sacrilegious video by Clinton and President Obama had sent a strong message that the US government does not support it.
She added that the two countries needed to build together on the architecture of mutual trust and each country’s national interests.
Khar said terrorists of all breeds and races threatened both Pakistan and the United States. The two countries have a unique opportunity to work together on Afghanistan and ensure there is no security vacuum during the transition period in Afghanistan, she added.
The Clinton-Khar meeting was ongoing at the time of filing this report, and was scheduled to last for two hours.
Expected attendees included Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman, Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides, Pakistan’s Ambassador Sherry Rehman and Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@David Salmon:
David.... only .001% of world's population is protected against hate,incitement and religious intolerance
unfortunately 24% of world's population that happens to be Muslim is not protected by these laws. freedom of expression does not apply to other faiths and people but only to Islam and Muslims
like there are laws against anti-semitism there should be laws against anti-Islam 99.99% of Muslims respect other religions and books considered to be holly by other religions.
@Bill Maher:
There are laws against incitement of hatred towards a religion or a race of people in the U.S and U.N and many other countries.
unfortunately those laws only protect the royal families and some other individuals but don't protect 24% of worlds population. 24% of world's population IS Muslim.
Just verbal condemn Hilary Clinton and would you like to explain that what practical steps/measures you have taken in peaceful manners and ways to stop this anti-Islam movie from sharing/releasing on Youtube besides giving verbal condemning statements against this anti-Islam movie to prove yourselves innocent and sinless in this regard???????
Seriously nobody here in USA cares what Hillary or Obama says about the movie, nor do many support the stupid movie maker. But this act of United States government to bow down in front of threat to freedom of speech which is the core part of American democracy is almost as bad as act of treason. I love Obama and Hillary and hence heart broken by their apologetic behavior on this topic. United States government neither support nor encouraged to make this movie, therefore it is only right that they should not be apologizing for the act of an individual. Sorry Hillary and Obama, it is seriously a shame!!! As for my emotionally fool muslim brothers. You bring shame to great Mohammad (pbuh) by doing something which is exactly opposite to his teachings. It is blasphemy to claim that you can protect his honor. Nobody can ruin neither protect the honor of a holy man. Your act belittles him. So grow some sanity and come out of this blind madness. You cant be so sensitive about every scums' misadventures. Your faith should be strong enough to take such assaults. By doing this barbaric agitation you are not just showing your weakness but also giving voice to the western countries which awaits such moment to show how backward, primitive and non progressive your society is.
@Abuturab: Because in the US unlike in Pakistan, people have freedom of speach
@Abuturab: The reason is the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Not even the President has authority to prohibit free speech and publication, especially when it concerns matters of religion. The blessings of free speech and democratic liberty come at the price of public toleration for things that might personally be highly offensive. We consider ourselves singularly blessed by liberty in that our speech can be very free and our personal liberty equally free of social and religious compulsion and bias, and opportunities for everyone are increased and rendered more fair. But, yes, one does have to put up with someone making jokes or derogatory remarks about the Pope. Our law does not permit an exception attuned to Muslim sensitivities.
There are some limits, such as for "hate speech," but those laws also require proof of use of force or fear or of destruction of property, else I think they also would be unconstitutional. There is also such a thing as "fighting words," derogatory or insulting personal remarks that will cause a fight or fracas, but their relevance is limited to defending against charges of assault and battery by proving that the other guy caused it by what he said. But that's about it.
Yes, UK and some European countries have blasphemy laws. But they used to have, may still have (UK), an officially approved State Church, and the blasphemy laws are relics of that era. The US grew from a democratic Revolution that overthrew the monarchy and declared itself free of both religious patronage and religious persecution, offering freedom for all.
imho.
i think only fishes are fishy
@ab: "Sometimes, pictures speak louder than words" Observe the exasperation, the contempt in that look! @Abreez: " In return we help America to have an access to $ 3,000,000,000,000 of gold, copper, coal, lithium, crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and rare earth elements." Only a fool and his money get parted! Keep these goodies to yourself, buried deep while you starve!
@Kay: That request has come from "peopel" all over the world. It is not coming from the regimes supported by the US. How can they come from such regimes when they are fed by the US directly..
Mrs. Secretary of State we need F-22 raptor and F-35 for our air force, will America help Pakistan against threats of future. In return we help America to have an access to $ 3,000,000,000,000 of gold, copper, coal, lithium, crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and rare earth elements.
@ Abuturab
Why doesn't such a request comes from Saudi Arabia? That smells more fishy.
@Abuturab: "Why Can’t US govt give an order to remove the video My dear,Pakistan is no position to demand anything of US govt. in this regard. It was not produced by the US govt. And US govt. does not have the authority to force Google/YouTube to remove the Video. These are hard cold facts.
It is a bad/stupid video and has been blocked in countries who requested it. Wish there laws against stupidity, if so, half the population of the world will be in prison. ..Peace
I am agree with Abuturab...
Why Can't US govt give an order to remove the video and penalize the culprits whose actions risked American lives in the world? That smells fishy.