"We welcome news of the nomination of Senator John F Kerry as the next US Secretary of State. Senator Kerry is a man of towering stature and accomplishments, having served the United States with great vigor and distinction,” Pakistan’s ambassador to US Sherry Rehman said in a statement.
“Senator Kerry has demonstrated through the years an extraordinary understanding of the complexities of South and Central Asia.”
Ambassador Rehman noted that the Senator’s past association with Pakistan and that he “has been a steadfast friend of Pakistan and is keenly aware of the strategic importance of a democratic, economically viable and stable Pakistan.”
“We look forward to his confirmation and to working with a statesman of his high moral standing and outstanding diplomatic calibre, to strengthen Pakistan-US relations, and to build peace and stability in South Asia.”
Senator Kerry’s appointment at the State Department needs confirmation from Congress, before he can take over from outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
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Pakistan welcomed Al Qaeda rebels government in Libya also so why not Kerry.
Pakistan has short term memory. Have forgotten Kerry Luger bill ?
Though he is considered pro Pakistani but now he is State Secretry of USA and aught to prefer the US National interests. Those expressing wishful thinking should keep this point in mind.
Pakistan has every reason to welcome the replacement of Hillary Clinton by John Kerry as the next US Secretary of State. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan should be keen to revive their relationship with The United States of America that has been at a rather low ebb during the last few years and has suffered a setback after the killing of Osama Bin Laden. One of the most distinct facts observed with regard to Pakistan as well as India in the context of relations with the US or for that matter China, Russia (former Soviet Union) etc has been the sceptical eye of the neighbour whenever there has been a positive move with regard to diplomatic relationship. US-Pak relationship if fructifies should not be at the cost of relationship with any other nation especially in the neighbourhood and vice-versa. Although with the recent developments on the Indo-Pak Front improvement of Pak-US relationship should not deter the onwards movement of India and Pakistan towards trust and friendship. As a nation Pakistan needs to develop as an entity within Asia and has a role to play in international politics hence the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan increases all the more. The onus now lies on the resourcefulness of Sherry Rehman and her team in US as to they are able to further push forward Pak-US relationship.
Kerry, no doubt, will make a great secretary of state. He will, like any other sane person, want to see a Pakistan that is stable, prosperous, free of state-sponsored terrorism as well as a country where religion is not misused to supress women and non-Salafists.