Sartaj Aziz quoted Obama as saying that America does not want 70 percent of Pakistanis to hate it. PHOTO: AFP
Speaking at the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj quoted President Obama as saying that America does not want 70 percent of Pakistanis to hate it, but it was desperate.
He added that when the issue of protests against late Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud's killing was brought up, America said that he was already on their hit list.
Hakimullah Mehsud, the young, ferocious and vengeful chief of TTP had survived at least two US drone strikes in the past. However, on November 1, his luck ran out.
The TTP ruled out the possibility of peace talks with Pakistan as Mullah Fazlullah, the leader of the Swat Taliban, was named the new chief on November 7.
Govt response
Politicians had earlier decried the strikes as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the peace process.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central information secretary Shireen Mazari had said that peace can not be restored in the country unless government parts ways with the US-led war on terror.
“This attack (the drone strike that killed Hakimullah) has showed who does not want the stability in the region,” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan had said.
The Pakistan People Party’s (PPP) chief Opposition whip in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah had also termed the strike a bid to sabotage the peace process, a day before a delegation was due to travel to Peshawar to initiate talks.
Shah had said the drone strike would delay the proposed peace process with Taliban. He had added that a drone attack at this crucial time indicates the US does not want to establish peace in the region.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Faz (JUI-F) chief Moulana Fazlur Rehman had also strongly condemned the drone attack and termed it as conspiracy to sabotage the dialogue process.
Officially, the government had condemned the drone strike on November 1.
Drone strike
Hakimullah was killed in a US drone strike in North Waziristan Agency on November 1.
“A remotely piloted US aircraft fired two missiles at a house in the Dandi Darpakhel area, one kilometre north of Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, around 7:15pm,” a security official had told The Express Tribune on November 1.
They had said six suspected militants were killed and two others injured in the strike. Local tribesmen had identified the other victims as Hakimullah’s cousin Tariq Mehsud, his driver Abdullah Mehsud and his personal guards.
COMMENTS (37)
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Today's (21/11/13) drone's strike on a children's madarsa has proven that how much US fulfills its commitments and how much inveterate liar,hypocrite and deceiver US is and how much US respects and honors Pakistan's sovereignty and airspace!!!! When Pakistani leadership shall admit and confess this harsh and bitter reality,id est,US can never be trusted or trustworthy? At least now Pakistani leadership has to observe and watch keenly and deeply the US' inner face and intentions that how much US is sincere and honest with Pakistan?????
@Raj - USA: Having lost 50,000 lives we know more than anyone else that TTP they are our enemies. The reason for talks with them is the same as USA's talks with Afgan Taliban. We have exercised all our military options ( war for 10 years now)and it has gone worse. Peace talks seem to be the only option left.. War is always counter productive and drones that kill innocents adds more fuel to the fire.
@unbelievable: @Raj - USA: We have no shame. We are a dead nation. The country was made on the basis of hatred toward our history and common culture and it would end at the hands of violence and hatred. I hope I am wrong but there is nothing positive on the horizon. The reason TTP and Taliban are doing this because they know they can do it and get away with it. Taliban have deep roots in our society which is not bothered about humanity. Regards, M
@Eddied:
None!! Besides one can never trust Pashtuns on their words if it is not in their Pakhtunwaali interest. Case in point Afghanistan enered into an agreement with the Brits in history but later the Amir ordered their massacre including their ambassador and not a single soul from the anglo indian army returned safely. When complained the Amir said that english is not his language and therefore the contract was not valid.
Rex Minor
@Raj - USA:
Any other country the people would be outraged and take to the streets demanding military retaliation - in Pakistan they shrug their shoulders - worse yet their own military doesn't seem to care. If it doesn't involve blasphemy, India or the USA the people just don't care.
... unless we have a high value target, that is.
America does not care what anyone in Pakistan thinks about it. Pakistanis are the most duplicitous people on earth so we don't care about any promises we make with you. The best thing would be for the Taliban to take over Pak so we could confront and eradicate the enemy easily. Pakistan sucss. I know you will not publish this because you are all cowards that can't tolerate an open dialog. your loss.
Freedom does set you free - a bit redundant. You wouldn't know.
What assurances have they gotten from the TTP that they will not murder any civilians or soldiers during these talks?...perhaps they should just surrender to the TTP?....
@sa:
Good work Aziz or good work Imran?
TTP will not talk if drones do not stop and army does not leave.
-KPK will stop the Exit route for NATO if drones do not stop since they prevent Peace talks, Obama blinks and says (according to Aziz) that no droning during talks, KPK to move next, logic...Exit route open as long as drones do not operate.
In the meantime the Talibans have a new managemenr and is Aziz reliable and trustworthy? Let us start all over again none of the parties are interested, reliable or trustworthy. The Talibans have all the time they need to sii it out...
Rex Minor
Drone is the most effective weapon and should be used as tool to bring the Talibans to the negotiating table.
Dear ‘Goldconsumer’
First and foremost, it is simply imperative for us to prevent any mistrust from forming between our nations. Our decade long partnership has shown the importance of our combined efforts against our common enemies. We’ve been able to capture some of the top terrorist leaders through each other’s assistance. At the same time, our leaders continue to meet to address our shared concerns; as evident by the recent meeting between PM Nawaz Sharif and President Obama. There is no reason for us to be pessimistic in regards to our partnership. At the end of the day, we share a common stance in regards to our peace objectives in the region. And we will continue to coordinate and communicate for the sake of preventing any issues from arising.
Ali Khan DET, United States Central Command
If I were a Pakistani, my blood would boil after seeing this 5 minute video of how brutally the talibans are beating up Pakistani soldiers. Pakistanis should watch this video, (warning: it is very graphic) and decide who is their enemy and who should they talk to. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzm1m9pakistani-soldiers-being-beaten-by-talibanwebcam
Admit it. Muslims are scared of a superior Christian forces.
So why haven't the American's made this public? Either they don't want to improve their standing with the Pakistani public or it's just not true. I suspect the later.
Mashallah.If that helps.My opinion is that Pakistanis should be forcefully reverted to Paganism and Idol worship.Maybe its time? time for us to just nudge you from the east?..;).Peace.
America will protect their own interests. Nothing strange about it. We cannot rely on them for our interests. I don't trust them nor our own government.
During dilaogue drone would be stopped it is a news? After that drone will fly over NW
@Ali S: You are a clever one? why don't the NATO use the othedr route. Have you the ideda what is being taken out of the country?
Rex Minor
Now that Mr Obama has lost his credibility among his own people as well as the European allies, the adjutant of Nawaz Sharif is being told to put out a new coder? The NSA has a complete control of the digital communications in the Pakistan area.
Rex Minor
Well thats so foolish to think about assurity... one protect its interest in the world today, be it US or any other country or even in a professional life... Pakistan and its governing rulers are foolish to think about assurity and making a public statement trying to implicate that we had assurity but they didnt oblige in the end... getting a esape goat route for their own fault.
Haven't we heard it all before too? Tell us something new and more funny!
Sartaj aziz is a dead rabbit for uSA, they will drone when they want. Now as they know there will be no peace talk so let's say this. Huh
"Obama told sartaj aziz and nawaz shareef that we are desperate"
Ya, then Obama wept like a baby and asked Pakistan to help USA militarily and help.
Suddenly both nawaz and sartaj woke up and found they were sucking each others thumbs..
So now the TTP will agree to peace talks within the confines of the Constitution? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hmmmm.
@Ali S, are you so naive to understand that Air routes are very expensive. Moving a truck would cost 100X time more than the value.
What a joke Talibans continue to kill Pakistani soldiers in NWaziristan killed two recently but US should stop drone attacks during peace talks PTI PMLN first tell the truth who you are negotiating with Barbaric Talibans
US assured us many things. We are dead by US assurances!
@Droner:
Another gem of wisdom by a supporter of the great Tiger. Blocking NATO routes mostly affects the livelihoods of the poor drivers - who incidentally are almost all from KPK. NATO will just reroute its supply by air. What will it take for people to see how idiotic the PTI (and IK's statements in particular) is proving itself to be. I voted for PTI in May, and I really regret that decision.
It is a pity that the state machinery which has been repeatedly stonewalled by these bunch of thugs on talks issue is still bending double to accommodate them. Make no mistake that they will never agree for talks in the first place on temporary halting of drone attacks and even if they do, would put uncompilable conditions.
Good, keep the talks going on and on to avoid drone attacks then!
PTI Zindabad..They know how to manage affairs with so-called lion's party (PML-N).
It clearly indicated a new agreement signed by the Advisor to Prime Minister of Pakistan and American authorities as disclosed by the advisor himself. Now please donot keep blaming former rulers of any future drone attacks.
good work Mr.Aziz
IK did good to delay NATO Blockage. USA wants to leave Afghanistan in 2014. So if we block their route, we want them to stay more!
Won't be long before the truth comes out.