Chuck Hagel will meet with Nawaz Sharif in the first visit by a US defense secretary to Pakistan in nearly four years. PHOTO: REUTERS
KABUL: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will visit Pakistan on Monday, officials said, with Afghanistan's stalled peace process high on the agenda as well as the strained relations between Washington and Islamabad.
Hagel, who has been in Afghanistan since Saturday, will meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad in the first visit by a US defense secretary to Pakistan in nearly four years.
Ties between the two countries have been troubled over US drone strikes targeting suspected militants in Pakistan's tribal belt.
"Secretary Hagel met with Prime Minister Sharif on his visit to Washington earlier this year and looks forward to continuing candid and productive conversations," Pentagon's Carl Woog told reporters on Sunday.
"Secretary Hagel also looks forward to discussing with Prime Minister Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials the United States and Pakistan's common interest in a stable Afghanistan."
Activists opposed to the drone strikes have been forcibly searching trucks in northwest Pakistan since late November to try to disrupt NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.
The US military has suspended shipments of equipment out of Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing, a key transit point to withdraw NATO military hardware from Afghanistan.
Pakistan is seen as crucial to peace in neighbouring Afghanistan as it was a key backer of the hardline 1996-2001 Taliban regime in Kabul and is believed to shelter some of the movement's leaders.
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ground supply routs and drone attacks are connected with eachother when drones would stopped ground line routs automatically opened.
The resolution strongly condemned the U.S. drone attacks saying these constitute violation of the principles of the Charter of United Nations, international laws and humanitarian norms./
But the United kicked out the resolution which unanimously passed by the parliament,counter productive before,us the whole nation has become icon of protest Circumstances are being deteriorated People on road with firm determination drone activities must be ban otherwise ground supply line would remained closed,it is a discision of popular will to which never disregarded.
Pakistan last month accused the United States of sabotaging its efforts to hold peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban after a U.S. drone killed the militant group's chief Hakimullah Mehsud.
Negotiatiing table was set,stake holder was invited and invitation was accepted by Taliban,Newly elected leadership prepared negotiating team but Drone crime was committed deliberatly for sabotaging the peace process..In fact United States want no peace in the region.he is moving forward under a pre-planned policy No one know its hidden.secret policy.
The US Congressman Steve Chabot have already said that "Drones are an alternative to boots on the ground and will continue to be used in the war against terrorists".
To have long term relationship, US should come out with a mutual understanding with Pakistan as how to combat against the terrorists when neither Government of Pakistan, nor people of Pakistan would like to see Pakistan sovereignty is challenged by the US drone strikes.
Pakistan's armed forces are of the view that they are capable of shooting the drones any time in the air, provided, the armed forces gets the orders from the top officials of the Civilian Government.
US cannot step forward with a cold heart towards Pakistan to narrow down the wide gap between the two governments without stopping the drone strikes.
Hagel's Monday's visit to Pakistan cannot change the hearts and minds of the Government or people of Pakistan.
It will just be a formality to be completed by the Government of Pakistan to welcome Mr. Hagel and that is it.
Hagel just turned down a meeting with Karsai making it clear that the USA was through negotiating and he had nothing further to say to the man. Clear sign that the USA has run out of patience with duplicitous behavior. I suspect his visit to Pakistan will be short, blunt and remind Sharif of the commitments made by Sharif during his meeting with Obama and the ramifications of not honoring those commitments.
He is coming to read the riots act. Either you are with us or against us. If we pay you good money we expect you to deliver the service or give our money back.
Is it a do more mission or something else? It is getting to Sharif and Sharif.