John Kerry arrives in Pakistan on key visit

[Devil Soul]

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State John Kerry flew into Pakistan on Wednesday night for meetings to ease tension over US drone strikes, the war in neighboring Afghanistan and the fight against Islamic extremism.

Kerry is also expected to press the new Pakistani government of Nawaz Sharif on eliminating Islamist militant safe-havens as US-led troops prepare to leave Afghanistan.

He arrived in Islamabad shortly before 9pm (1600 GMT) on a trip that was not announced ahead of time because of security concerns. He is scheduled to meet with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief of staff General Ashfaq Kayani on Thursday.

Kerry plans a stop in London on his return to Washington.

Earlier during the day, PM Sharif met with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and discussed the agenda for their meetings with the US secretary of state.

“Our issues that we will discuss with the Pakistanis are counterterrorism, cross-border militancy, the economic agenda and how we can continue to partner in terms of promoting a secure and stable Afghanistan,” a senior US official told reporters travelling with Kerry.

However, drone strikes are expected to be another point of contention. Washington says it needs to attack dangerous militants with drones because Pakistan's government refuses to engage them militarily. Pakistan contends the drone strikes are a fresh violation of its sovereignty, and they have increased widespread anti-American sentiment in the country.

The United States has reduced the number of drone attacks against militants in Pakistan and limited strikes to top targets. These moves appear to have appeased Pakistan's generals for now, US officials said.

But some officials are worry about pushback from the new civilian officials, including Sharif, who wants the attacks ended.

There have been 16 drone strikes taken place in Pakistan so far this year, compared with a peak of 122 in 2010, 73 in 2011 and 48 in 2012, according to the New America Foundation, a US-based think tank.
John Kerry arrives in Pakistan on key visit - DAWN.COM

 

[third eye]

http://www.defence.pk/forums/pakist...s-visit-postponed-over-security-concerns.html

 

[Pulsar]

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State John Kerry flew into Pakistan on Wednesday night for meetings to ease tension over US drone strikes, the war in neighboring Afghanistan and the fight against Islamic extremism.

Huh? Haven't we heard all this before? He could've just sent a recorded CD of the last umpteen Pak-US meetings on the same old issues and saved the trouble and expenses of flying all the way to Pakistan and wasting everyone's time!

Or has he come with a magic bullet this time?

 

[CENTCOM]

We share a common stance against terrorism, and our shared will and desire to stabilize the region continues to binds us together. It is easy to see that our nations are working hard to create a healthy working relationship. We’ve seen the negatives of staying on the opposites sides of the fence, and at the same time, we’ve greatly benefited from working closely. It only makes sense for us to be on the same page for the betterment of the region. These meetings allow us to address any shared concerns in regards to our common objectives. We are working hard to build on our improving relationship. We’ve always said that we cannot have a stable region without a stable Pakistan. We’ve always appreciated all of Pakistan’s sacrifices in the region and look forward to maintaining a good working relationship for the safety of our nations.

Ali Khan
DET, United States Central Command

 

[Jango]

We share a common stance against terrorism,

No we don't.

 

[Slav Defence]

I remember one of his statement when he visited Pakistan for strategical and geopolitical issues,while holding a press conference,when he was asked about drone issue then he rudely replied:"My hands are full of money" and almost he kept on repeating same statements on such questions about which he wasn't interested to talk about.
I was watching his interview,when he responded in such a humiliating way(this is what i felt),I wished that people,media persons of Pakistan 'kash' respond him that 'we don't need your money,we want solution for better Pakistan,we want security and we want to solve issues on equality basis,since then I never watched his interview ever again.

 

[Pakistanisage]

I think the SAFE HAVENS would automatically disappear because as the US and NATO Forces Exit, these Afghan Taliban would return to Afghanistan.


BTW, I don't know why Indian Trollers want to derail the Thread. @third eye What is your issue mate. The man is already in Pakistan.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/kerry-pakistan-drones-afg_n_3682929.html?utm_hp_ref=world



ISLAMABAD — A new set of players but the same lingering issues are confronting John Kerry on his first visit to Pakistan as U.S. secretary of state: the fight against extremism, American drone attacks inside the country and the war in Afghanistan.

The Obama administration hasn't sent its top diplomat to Pakistan since 2011, and Kerry's trip is a chance for the former senator to get to know the newly elected prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who came to power in Pakistan's first transition between civilian governments.

Kerry arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday evening, and planned meetings Thursday with civilian and military leaders, including Sharif.

Senior administration officials traveling with Kerry told reporters that while relations with Pakistan have grown touchy in recent years, there is the prospect of resetting those ties with Sharif's government and working together on major issues – counterterrorism, energy, regional stability, economic reforms, trade and investment. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss Kerry's agenda.

The U.S. wants to help strengthen the role of the civilian government in Pakistan, where the military long has been dominant, and wants Sharif to tackle rising extremist attacks inside his country.

The prison break this week that freed hundreds of inmates raises serious questions about Pakistan's ability to battle an insurgency that has raged for years and killed tens of thousands.

"The U.S.-Pakistan relationship is badly in disrepair. It has been for some time, and the Pakistanis don't seem to be in any hurry to fix it," said Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution who has served as a senior adviser to the past four U.S. presidents.

Relations took a hit after the U.S. raid in 2011 that killed Osama bin Laden in his compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan. Pakistanis felt the raid violated their country's sovereignty.

While the U.S. is seeking quick responses to its concerns, Sharif is moving slowly, Riedel said, noting that the prime minister has yet to name an ambassador to the United States.

Suspected Islamic militants killed at least 160 people during the new government's first month in office. Sharif's government has not articulated an alternate strategy.

The U.S. also wants Pakistan to pressure leaders of the Afghan Taliban to negotiate with Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government, renounce violence and sever ties with al-Qaida.

Some Pakistani military and intelligence leaders see the U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan, know the American public and U.S. Congress want out of the war, and would be OK with seeing the Taliban retake control of Afghanistan, Riedel said. Pakistani officials will give "lip service" to the idea of reconciliation with the Taliban, he said, but will refrain from acting, which will allow the insurgents to remain strong in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

Adding to Kerry's problems is the recent collapse of U.S.-Taliban talks before they began at the insurgent group's political office in Doha, Qatar, and Karzai's decision to suspend talks with the U.S. over a bilateral security agreement. Without such a deal, the U.S. will not be able to keep troops in Afghanistan after the U.S.-led NATO combat mission ends at the close of 2014.

Kerry planned to for better relations between Islamabad and Kabul. Karzai has announced his intent to visit Pakistan soon, but previous bilateral meetings have yielded little.

Kerry has a long history of dealing with Pakistan.

As chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry was a main sponsor of a 2010 law that boosted U.S. assistance to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year until 2014. The Obama administration enlisted Kerry to help arrange the release of a CIA contractor who was arrested in Pakistan after killing two men in 2011.

Officials in neighboring Afghanistan are demanding that Pakistan dismantle extremists' havens inside Pakistan and push the Taliban to join the peace process. Both the U.S. and Afghanistan say that if attacks are allowed to continue, the region will never become stability. Pakistani officials say they do not control the Taliban, but Karzai's government isn't convinced.

Drone strikes are another point of contention.

Washington says it needs to attack dangerous militants with drones because Pakistan's government refuses to engage them militarily. Pakistan contends the drone strikes are a fresh violation of its sovereignty, and they have increased widespread anti-American sentiment in the country.

The United States has reduced the number of drone attacks against militants in Pakistan and limited strikes to top targets. These moves appear to have appeased Pakistan's generals for now, U.S. officials said. But some officials worry about pushback from the new civilian officials, including Sharif, who wants the attacks ended.

There have been 16 drone strikes in Pakistan this year, compared with a peak of 122 in 2010, 73 in 2011 and 48 in 2012, according to the New America Foundation, a U.S.-based think tank.

While the number has fallen, it's unclear whether the strikes were curtailed only in deference to Pakistan or because there are top targets left, said Jonah Blank, senior international policy analyst at the RAND Corp., a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank.

___

AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.


Related on HuffPost:

 

[Pakistanisage]

http://www.defence.pk/forums/pakist...s-visit-postponed-over-security-concerns.html

Why are you posting two day old postponement to derail the thread. The Man is already in Pakistan.

 

[third eye]

Why are you posting two day old postponement to derail the thread. The Man is already in Pakistan.

Read the last post on that thread

 

[Devil Soul]

Why are you posting two day old postponement to derail the thread. The Man is already in Pakistan.

Me thinks he wants to merge the 2 thread.... but only if the Title is updated

 

[Pakistanisage]

Huh? Haven't we heard all this before? He could've just sent a recorded CD of the last umpteen Pak-US meetings on the same old issues and saved the trouble and expenses of flying all the way to Pakistan and wasting everyone's time!

Or has he come with a magic bullet this time?

Who gives a RAT'S @SS what you Indians think.

He did not come to Pakistan to suit your convenience. NOOOOOOOOO.

He came to discuss with Pakistan , you NARCISSISTIC TROLLS FROM ACROSS THE BORDER.

You guys think the whole World revolves around you Guys. Too much INFLATED OPINION ABOUT SELF WORTH.

 

[Rank]

No we don't.

AGREED!

The Real picture btw US and Pakistan

US supporting TTP Funded Terrorist into Pakistan (Against Pakistan Interest)
US Supporting INDIA in Afghanistan (Against Pakistan Interest)
US Selling Weapons (Offering Weapons) to India (Against Pakistan Interest)
US promoting Indians in America helping Indians everywhere (Against Pakistan Interest)
US want dialog btw US and Taliban but don't want Dialog btw Pakistan and TTP (Against Pakistan Interest)
US tip-off killed many TTP terrorist leaders who have some soft corner for Pakistan and interested in Dailog with Pakistan US killed almost all those TTP leaders (Against Pakistan Interest)
US killed 1/99% ratio civilians by Drone "The most Un-Popular Drone Strikes in the world" (Against Pakistan Interest)
US create block btw ANA, India, Afghan Govt (Against Pakistan Interest)
US against Pak-Iran Gas Pipline (Against Pakistan Interest)
US against Gawadar in the hand's of China which is very important for Pakistan (Against Pakistan Interest)
US Media create/blame/defame Pakistan military ISI and its people again (Against Pakistan Interest)
US payed $$$ to Pakistani Media to push this ****** aman ka Tamsha to promote India and Indian Culture in Pakistan and boost Anti-Pakistan Journalist like Hamid Mir, Sethi etc against Pakistan Military, ISI and its people again (Against Pakistan Interest)


WHERE IS YOUR FUKKING COMMON INTERESTS??? MR US and his Phetoo!

That is CLEAR "WAR AGAINST PAKISTAN" by the US rather thn calling that ****** BS so called COMMON STANCE ON TERRORISM MY *****!

 

[third eye]

I think the SAFE HAVENS would automatically disappear because as the US and NATO Forces Exit, these Afghan Taliban would return to Afghanistan.


BTW, I don't know why Indian Trollers want to derail the Thread. @third eye What is your issue mate. The man is already in Pakistan.

I wish posters would look before they leap.

I had started a thread on the cancellation of this visit. Now that the visit has happened instead of creating a new thread I merely added the news clip to the same thread .

On seeing a fresh thread on the visit I merely drew attention .

Read... it helps.

 

[Pakistanisage]

I wish posters would look before they leap.

I had started a thread on the cancellation of this visit. Now that the visit has happened instead of creating a new thread I merely added the news clip to the same thread .

On seeing a fresh thread on the visit I merely drew attention .

Read... it helps.

By posting conflicting older news you created CONFUSION IN THE THREAD.

 

[Pulsar]

He came to discuss with Pakistan.

He came to discuss with Pakistan what? Just the weather probably! Because there's nothing left to discuss! Like flogging a dead horse!

you NARCISSISTIC TROLLS FROM ACROSS THE BORDER.

Ooops! Don't shout too loud or you'll get blood pressure which is bad for the heart and could also lead to a stroke resulting in the untimely passing away of a stalwart whom we'll surely not miss!