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Pakistan to return U.S. helicopter tail, Kerry says - The Washington Post
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan Pakistan has agreed to return the tail of the U.S. military helicopter that malfunctioned during the Osama bin Laden raid, U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry said Monday, part of a specific series of steps aimed at reducing suspicion between Islamabad and Washington.
Kerry (D-Mass.) came here to discuss the killing of bin Laden with top Pakistani leaders, in meetings that could influence whether the United States continues to provide billions of dollars in aid to an ally that many in Washington believe harbors Islamist militants.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) says America's relationship with Pakistan is at a "critical moment" after the killing of Osama bin Laden. Kerry chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan. (May 15)
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) says America's relationship with Pakistan is at a "critical moment" after the killing of Osama bin Laden. Kerry chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan. (May 15)
In the wake of the raid, the two nations relationship hovers at one of its worst-ever points. Some members of Congress, outraged that bin Laden found refuge for years in a Pakistan city known for its military academy and bases, are calling for the severance of aid to Pakistan. Pakistani officials, meanwhile, are furious that the U.S. did not tell them in advance of the bin Laden operation, and are facing an angry domestic backlash at the unilateral American action on Pakistani soil.
Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the most senior U.S. official to visit Pakistan since bin Ladens death, told reporters in the Pakistani capital on Monday that, This road ahead will not be defined by words. It will be defined by actions.
My goal in coming here was not to apologize for what I consider to be a triumph against terorrism of unprecedented consequences, Kerry said of raid on bin Ladens compound. But, he added, isolated episodes, no matter how profound, dont jeopardize the larger relationship.
Kerry said that in meetings with top civilian and military leaders, the U.S. and Pakistan had agreed on a specific series of steps that will be implemented in order to get the relationship on track.
The first step in that roadmap, as he described it, is that the the tail of the downed helicopter used in the raid will be returned to U.S. custody. The copter experienced mechanical difficulties when landing at bin Ladens compound. Navy SEALs destroyed part of it before leaving, in an effort to keep the latest U.S. military technology a secret.
But the tail remained intact, and photos of it quickly made their way into public view.
Kerrys name is widely associated in Pakistan with a recent U.S. assistance package meant to demonstrate a long-term strategic partnership. But with many in Washington focusing on Pakistans alleged collusion with insurgents, that funding is now on the line a development Pakistanis interpret as proof of U.S. capriciousness.
Beyond the helicopter tail, Kerry did not outline the other steps to which officials had agreed. But he said he had talked to Pakistani officials about bin Ladens apparent ability to live undetected in Abbottabad for years, as well as what Pakistan plans to do about containing other militant groups.
Ill say again and again: The make or break is real, Kerry said. There are members of Congress who arent confident that [the relationship] can be patched back together again. That is why actions, not words, are going to be critical to earning their votes.
At the same time, Kerry sought to reassure the Pakistanis. He said hed emphasized to Pakistani leaders that the secrecy surrounding the Abbottabad operation was not a reflection of U.S. distrust, but rather the importance of operational security.
Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, where the raid originated, did not know about it until a few days in advance, Kerry said. Senior White House officials and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff did not know; Kerry himself was told by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton after the fact.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) says America's relationship with Pakistan is at a "critical moment" after the killing of Osama bin Laden. Kerry chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan. (May 15)
We could not have caught Osama bin Laden without intelligence cooperation with Pakistan, Kerry said. We could not have debilitated al-Qaeda as significantly as we have.
Having tried and narrowly failed to reach bin Laden in Tora Bora years ago, Kerry said, the United States was determined this time to avoid leaks at all costs.
This had to be an American operation. And it had to be as secure as humanly possible, Kerry said. Faced with a second chance to capture Osama bin Laden, no American president could conceivably have afforded to take even the slightest chance that he might again slip through our hands.
Pakistan issued a statement after Kerrys meetings, affirming that both U.S. and Pakistan must recognize and respect each others national interests, particularly in countering terrorism and in working together for promoting reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan.
The statement said Pakistan-U.S. relations should go forward on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual interest, and said Pakistans top leaders made clear that Pakistans sovereignty and national interests must be respected and accommodated by the U.S.
The United States uses Pakistan as a key supply route for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and Pakistans assistance is viewed as crucial to a potential negotiated end to the war there. At worst, some U.S. officials say, cutting ties with Islamabad could destabilize the government to the point that Pakistans nuclear arsenal falls into the hands of Islamists.
Pakistan, meanwhile, needs U.S. assistance to help arm its military and shore up its teetering economy. And though anti-American sentiment is rampant, Pakistan also depends on the cachet of being allied with a superpower particularly in view of its poor relationships with its own neighbors.
U.S.-Pakistan tensions are likely to be further inflamed this week by the start of a terror trial in Chicago that could shed new light on Pakistans relationship with Islamist militants. A Chicago businessman is accused of providing financial and logistical backing to the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, which were carried out by a Pakistani group, Lashkar-e-Taiba. The star witness has told investigators that the siege was financed by Pakistans main spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate, or ISI.
In coming days, senior administration officials will visit Pakistan to discuss implementation of the roadmap, Kerry said. The outcome of those discussions will determine whether Clinton will move forward with plans to visit Pakistan later this month.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan Pakistan has agreed to return the tail of the U.S. military helicopter that malfunctioned during the Osama bin Laden raid, U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry said Monday, part of a specific series of steps aimed at reducing suspicion between Islamabad and Washington.
Kerry (D-Mass.) came here to discuss the killing of bin Laden with top Pakistani leaders, in meetings that could influence whether the United States continues to provide billions of dollars in aid to an ally that many in Washington believe harbors Islamist militants.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) says America's relationship with Pakistan is at a "critical moment" after the killing of Osama bin Laden. Kerry chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan. (May 15)
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) says America's relationship with Pakistan is at a "critical moment" after the killing of Osama bin Laden. Kerry chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan. (May 15)
In the wake of the raid, the two nations relationship hovers at one of its worst-ever points. Some members of Congress, outraged that bin Laden found refuge for years in a Pakistan city known for its military academy and bases, are calling for the severance of aid to Pakistan. Pakistani officials, meanwhile, are furious that the U.S. did not tell them in advance of the bin Laden operation, and are facing an angry domestic backlash at the unilateral American action on Pakistani soil.
Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the most senior U.S. official to visit Pakistan since bin Ladens death, told reporters in the Pakistani capital on Monday that, This road ahead will not be defined by words. It will be defined by actions.
My goal in coming here was not to apologize for what I consider to be a triumph against terorrism of unprecedented consequences, Kerry said of raid on bin Ladens compound. But, he added, isolated episodes, no matter how profound, dont jeopardize the larger relationship.
Kerry said that in meetings with top civilian and military leaders, the U.S. and Pakistan had agreed on a specific series of steps that will be implemented in order to get the relationship on track.
The first step in that roadmap, as he described it, is that the the tail of the downed helicopter used in the raid will be returned to U.S. custody. The copter experienced mechanical difficulties when landing at bin Ladens compound. Navy SEALs destroyed part of it before leaving, in an effort to keep the latest U.S. military technology a secret.
But the tail remained intact, and photos of it quickly made their way into public view.
Kerrys name is widely associated in Pakistan with a recent U.S. assistance package meant to demonstrate a long-term strategic partnership. But with many in Washington focusing on Pakistans alleged collusion with insurgents, that funding is now on the line a development Pakistanis interpret as proof of U.S. capriciousness.
Beyond the helicopter tail, Kerry did not outline the other steps to which officials had agreed. But he said he had talked to Pakistani officials about bin Ladens apparent ability to live undetected in Abbottabad for years, as well as what Pakistan plans to do about containing other militant groups.
Ill say again and again: The make or break is real, Kerry said. There are members of Congress who arent confident that [the relationship] can be patched back together again. That is why actions, not words, are going to be critical to earning their votes.
At the same time, Kerry sought to reassure the Pakistanis. He said hed emphasized to Pakistani leaders that the secrecy surrounding the Abbottabad operation was not a reflection of U.S. distrust, but rather the importance of operational security.
Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, where the raid originated, did not know about it until a few days in advance, Kerry said. Senior White House officials and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff did not know; Kerry himself was told by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton after the fact.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) says America's relationship with Pakistan is at a "critical moment" after the killing of Osama bin Laden. Kerry chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan. (May 15)
We could not have caught Osama bin Laden without intelligence cooperation with Pakistan, Kerry said. We could not have debilitated al-Qaeda as significantly as we have.
Having tried and narrowly failed to reach bin Laden in Tora Bora years ago, Kerry said, the United States was determined this time to avoid leaks at all costs.
This had to be an American operation. And it had to be as secure as humanly possible, Kerry said. Faced with a second chance to capture Osama bin Laden, no American president could conceivably have afforded to take even the slightest chance that he might again slip through our hands.
Pakistan issued a statement after Kerrys meetings, affirming that both U.S. and Pakistan must recognize and respect each others national interests, particularly in countering terrorism and in working together for promoting reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan.
The statement said Pakistan-U.S. relations should go forward on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual interest, and said Pakistans top leaders made clear that Pakistans sovereignty and national interests must be respected and accommodated by the U.S.
The United States uses Pakistan as a key supply route for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and Pakistans assistance is viewed as crucial to a potential negotiated end to the war there. At worst, some U.S. officials say, cutting ties with Islamabad could destabilize the government to the point that Pakistans nuclear arsenal falls into the hands of Islamists.
Pakistan, meanwhile, needs U.S. assistance to help arm its military and shore up its teetering economy. And though anti-American sentiment is rampant, Pakistan also depends on the cachet of being allied with a superpower particularly in view of its poor relationships with its own neighbors.
U.S.-Pakistan tensions are likely to be further inflamed this week by the start of a terror trial in Chicago that could shed new light on Pakistans relationship with Islamist militants. A Chicago businessman is accused of providing financial and logistical backing to the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, which were carried out by a Pakistani group, Lashkar-e-Taiba. The star witness has told investigators that the siege was financed by Pakistans main spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate, or ISI.
In coming days, senior administration officials will visit Pakistan to discuss implementation of the roadmap, Kerry said. The outcome of those discussions will determine whether Clinton will move forward with plans to visit Pakistan later this month.
