Well, Pakistan will stick to its guns, & as I see it, it is the noises of annoyance that are coming from the US about how the events in Afghanistan are transpiring. And it will continue to be like that.
Pakistan blocks NATO supplies
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Well, Pakistan will stick to its guns, & as I see it, it is the noises of annoyance that are coming from the US about how the events in Afghanistan are transpiring. And it will continue to be like that.
VCheng
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may karta rahta hoon aap phartay kam hain lolz
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Pakistan expressed disappointment Tuesday over US plans to freeze $700 million in aid.
However, Pakistan said it could cope without the cash.
The conditions were unveiled by US House and Senate negotiators on Monday in a compromise military spending bill expected to be passed this week.
"It is most unfortunate and untimely," the chairman of Pakistan s senate committee on foreign affairs, Salim Saifullah Khan, told AFP.
The bill comes with the fragile American-Pakistani alliance at an all time low since November 26 air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border in what Pakistan called a deliberate attack.
The measure would freeze roughly $700 million in aid to Pakistan pending assurances that Islamabad has taken steps to thwart militants who use improvised explosive devices against US-led forces in Afghanistan.
"I think we will survive without aid, but it is most unfortunate to see these things after 31 years of sacrifices by Pakistan," said Khan.
Pakistan shut its Afghan border to US supplies on November 26 and ordered American personnel out of the Shamsi air base, widely reported to have been a hub in a CIA drone war against militants, in response to the strikes.
However, Khan did not rule out a thaw in US relations.
"There is always a room for improving relations and cooperation and Pakistan wants friendly relations with everyone," Khan said.
Washington earlier this year suspended about a third of its $2.7 billion annual defence aid to Pakistan, but assured Islamabad it is committed to a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian assistance package approved in 2009. --AFP
Dunya News: Pakistan
akistan disappointed by US aid cut plan...
However, Pakistan said it could cope without the cash.
The conditions were unveiled by US House and Senate negotiators on Monday in a compromise military spending bill expected to be passed this week.
"It is most unfortunate and untimely," the chairman of Pakistan s senate committee on foreign affairs, Salim Saifullah Khan, told AFP.
The bill comes with the fragile American-Pakistani alliance at an all time low since November 26 air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border in what Pakistan called a deliberate attack.
The measure would freeze roughly $700 million in aid to Pakistan pending assurances that Islamabad has taken steps to thwart militants who use improvised explosive devices against US-led forces in Afghanistan.
"I think we will survive without aid, but it is most unfortunate to see these things after 31 years of sacrifices by Pakistan," said Khan.
Pakistan shut its Afghan border to US supplies on November 26 and ordered American personnel out of the Shamsi air base, widely reported to have been a hub in a CIA drone war against militants, in response to the strikes.
However, Khan did not rule out a thaw in US relations.
"There is always a room for improving relations and cooperation and Pakistan wants friendly relations with everyone," Khan said.
Washington earlier this year suspended about a third of its $2.7 billion annual defence aid to Pakistan, but assured Islamabad it is committed to a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian assistance package approved in 2009. --AFP
Dunya News: Pakistan
akistan disappointed by US aid cut plan...
Major Sam
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We can't win Afghanistan war without winning Pakistan, says Panetta
KABUL: US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta said on Tuesday that it was important to reach out to Pakistan if the United States wants to dismantle Afghan militant havens.
Its been said a number of times that ultimately we cant win the war in Afghanistan without being able to win in our relationship with Pakistan as well, said Panetta.
The US Secretary of Defence is visiting Kabul to discuss the situation in Pakistan and to reaffirm Americas commitment to Afghanistan as Washington starts to withdraw combat troops and hand over security to Afghan forces.
Its going to be important, as we continue to move and progress in our efforts in Afghanistan, that we continue to outreach to Pakistan. This has been a difficult and complicated relationship but it is an important relationship.
Pakistan shut the US supply line into landlocked Afghanistan on November 26 after the Nato attack on a Pakistani check post that killed 25 Pakistani soldiers, saying that the blockade could last weeks longer, and forced Americans to leave the Shamsi air base.
US officials have accused Pakistan of supporting the Afghan Taliban and its Haqqani faction, whose leaders are based on Pakistani soil.
They have provided cooperation in areas that have been important to us and at the same time weve had some serious difficulties with regards to the operations that involve groups in the Fata (Pakistans tribal belt) and groups along the border.
Pakistan called the November 26 attack deliberate. US commanders deny it was intentional. US investigators are due to submit a report on December 23.
In the end Pakistan and the US do share the same concerns with regards to terrorism, said Panetta.
Afghanistan and the US troops withdrawal
The Pentagon chief says that violence is falling in Afghanistan, where the US has been at war with the Taliban for 10 years.
I think 2011 will mark a turning point with regards with the efforts to Afghanistan, Panetta told journalists on the flight to Kabul.
Troops have been able to reduce the levels of violence there. They are successful in securing some of the key areas in Afghanistan. Theres greater success in the Afghan military and police.
The US has announced the withdrawal of 10,000 of its 100,000 troops by the end of the year, while 23,000 others will leave the country by the end of September 2012 after the summer fighting season.
The number corresponds to the 33,000 surge troops ordered in by President Barack Obama in late 2009 in a bid to reverse the Taliban insurgency, defeat al Qaeda and quicken an end to the war.
Recent media reports, not denied by the Pentagon, say the focus of the US mission is turning increasingly to building up the Afghan army to take on more responsibility in the fight against the Taliban.
Panetta welcomed the significant achievement of a second phase of transition from Nato to Afghan security control, which was launched this month in conjunction with the planned exit of all Nato combat troops in 2014.
In the second wave, Afghan forces will take charge of six provinces, seven provincial capitals and more than 40 districts, including three in the southern province of Helmand, one of most deadly in the conflict.
More than half of Afghans live in an area included in either the first or second phase of transition, according to Karzai.
That of course requires greater and greater efforts by the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) as theyre moving to the lead, a senior US defence official said, speaking anonymously.
During his two-day visit, the former CIA director will also meet General John Allen, the US commander in Afghanistan, troops and US embassy staff.
The Pentagon chief, who made a brief stop in Djibouti before arriving in Kabul, will next travel to Iraq, Turkey and Libya.
We can’t win Afghanistan war without winning Pakistan, says Panetta – The Express Tribune
KABUL: US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta said on Tuesday that it was important to reach out to Pakistan if the United States wants to dismantle Afghan militant havens.
Its been said a number of times that ultimately we cant win the war in Afghanistan without being able to win in our relationship with Pakistan as well, said Panetta.
The US Secretary of Defence is visiting Kabul to discuss the situation in Pakistan and to reaffirm Americas commitment to Afghanistan as Washington starts to withdraw combat troops and hand over security to Afghan forces.
Its going to be important, as we continue to move and progress in our efforts in Afghanistan, that we continue to outreach to Pakistan. This has been a difficult and complicated relationship but it is an important relationship.
Pakistan shut the US supply line into landlocked Afghanistan on November 26 after the Nato attack on a Pakistani check post that killed 25 Pakistani soldiers, saying that the blockade could last weeks longer, and forced Americans to leave the Shamsi air base.
US officials have accused Pakistan of supporting the Afghan Taliban and its Haqqani faction, whose leaders are based on Pakistani soil.
They have provided cooperation in areas that have been important to us and at the same time weve had some serious difficulties with regards to the operations that involve groups in the Fata (Pakistans tribal belt) and groups along the border.
Pakistan called the November 26 attack deliberate. US commanders deny it was intentional. US investigators are due to submit a report on December 23.
In the end Pakistan and the US do share the same concerns with regards to terrorism, said Panetta.
Afghanistan and the US troops withdrawal
The Pentagon chief says that violence is falling in Afghanistan, where the US has been at war with the Taliban for 10 years.
I think 2011 will mark a turning point with regards with the efforts to Afghanistan, Panetta told journalists on the flight to Kabul.
Troops have been able to reduce the levels of violence there. They are successful in securing some of the key areas in Afghanistan. Theres greater success in the Afghan military and police.
The US has announced the withdrawal of 10,000 of its 100,000 troops by the end of the year, while 23,000 others will leave the country by the end of September 2012 after the summer fighting season.
The number corresponds to the 33,000 surge troops ordered in by President Barack Obama in late 2009 in a bid to reverse the Taliban insurgency, defeat al Qaeda and quicken an end to the war.
Recent media reports, not denied by the Pentagon, say the focus of the US mission is turning increasingly to building up the Afghan army to take on more responsibility in the fight against the Taliban.
Panetta welcomed the significant achievement of a second phase of transition from Nato to Afghan security control, which was launched this month in conjunction with the planned exit of all Nato combat troops in 2014.
In the second wave, Afghan forces will take charge of six provinces, seven provincial capitals and more than 40 districts, including three in the southern province of Helmand, one of most deadly in the conflict.
More than half of Afghans live in an area included in either the first or second phase of transition, according to Karzai.
That of course requires greater and greater efforts by the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) as theyre moving to the lead, a senior US defence official said, speaking anonymously.
During his two-day visit, the former CIA director will also meet General John Allen, the US commander in Afghanistan, troops and US embassy staff.
The Pentagon chief, who made a brief stop in Djibouti before arriving in Kabul, will next travel to Iraq, Turkey and Libya.
We can’t win Afghanistan war without winning Pakistan, says Panetta – The Express Tribune
Talking to the US/NATO does not go against what I say. But what will transpire in Afghanistan will be different from that, & it won't be to the liking of the US.
VCheng
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I disagree with that prediction, but let's wait and see. All will be clear soon enough.
Yes, it's clear what happened (& is happening) in Iraq as well.
VCheng
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Let's not take the thread off-topic please.
I think it is very pertinent to the inevitable happening in Afghanistan.
VCheng
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No cut in $700m aid to Pakistan: US State Department
US have not cut $700 million in aid to Pakistan, said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.
Struggling hard to restore its ties with Pakistan in the aftermath of NATO air strike last month, the Obama administration today said that it has not cut any civilian aid to Pakistan, noting that this is an on-going move in the Congress right now.
"Well, first of all, just to clarify what has and hasn t happened here in our understanding. We have not cut $700 million in aid to Pakistan," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily news conference.
"What we have is something on the defense authorization bill, which is currently moving in the Congress, which would require the Department of Defense to continue providing a strategy on how we will use certain military assistance and measure its progress, in particular on progress that we are making with Pakistan on the IED issue," Nuland said in response to a question.
Leaders of a US House-Senate negotiating panel had agreed to freeze $700 million in aid to Islamabad.
In a statement issued late last night, negotiating panel of the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously agreed to freeze the $700 million aid to Pakistan pending Pentagon s delivery of a strategy for improving the effectiveness of such assistance and assurances that Pakistan is countering Improvised Explosive Devices networks in their country that are targeting collation forces.
"If this legislation becomes law, we ll work with the government of Pakistan on how we can fulfill the requirements. But this requires us to maintain a strategic perspective and to be clear with our Congress about the strategy," she said.
"As you know, this is a subject that the US and Pakistan have been working on for some time together, both through DOD programmes and through State Department programmes," Nuland said.
The spokesperson did not comment in detail when asked about the conference of the diplomatic corps in Pakistan chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
"I don t have a comment specifically on the outcome of the conference. I don t have full information from our embassy after the conference. I think you know our view that while this relationship is sometimes difficult, it s very important for the US and Pakistan to continue to work together, particularly on threats that face both of us," she said.
"Our dialogue with them continues on how we can do that together," Nuland said.
Dunya News: Pakistan:-No cut in $700m aid to Pakistan: US State Departme...
US have not cut $700 million in aid to Pakistan, said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.
Struggling hard to restore its ties with Pakistan in the aftermath of NATO air strike last month, the Obama administration today said that it has not cut any civilian aid to Pakistan, noting that this is an on-going move in the Congress right now.
"Well, first of all, just to clarify what has and hasn t happened here in our understanding. We have not cut $700 million in aid to Pakistan," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily news conference.
"What we have is something on the defense authorization bill, which is currently moving in the Congress, which would require the Department of Defense to continue providing a strategy on how we will use certain military assistance and measure its progress, in particular on progress that we are making with Pakistan on the IED issue," Nuland said in response to a question.
Leaders of a US House-Senate negotiating panel had agreed to freeze $700 million in aid to Islamabad.
In a statement issued late last night, negotiating panel of the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously agreed to freeze the $700 million aid to Pakistan pending Pentagon s delivery of a strategy for improving the effectiveness of such assistance and assurances that Pakistan is countering Improvised Explosive Devices networks in their country that are targeting collation forces.
"If this legislation becomes law, we ll work with the government of Pakistan on how we can fulfill the requirements. But this requires us to maintain a strategic perspective and to be clear with our Congress about the strategy," she said.
"As you know, this is a subject that the US and Pakistan have been working on for some time together, both through DOD programmes and through State Department programmes," Nuland said.
The spokesperson did not comment in detail when asked about the conference of the diplomatic corps in Pakistan chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
"I don t have a comment specifically on the outcome of the conference. I don t have full information from our embassy after the conference. I think you know our view that while this relationship is sometimes difficult, it s very important for the US and Pakistan to continue to work together, particularly on threats that face both of us," she said.
"Our dialogue with them continues on how we can do that together," Nuland said.
Dunya News: Pakistan:-No cut in $700m aid to Pakistan: US State Departme...
Pakistan NATO blockade to continue
Prime minister says suspension may remain in place for several weeks, as tensions between Islamabad and US remain high.
Last Modified: 12 Dec 2011 13:04
The US military has left a Pakistani airbase as tensions with Islamabad continue to remain high [AFP/ISPR HANDOUT]
Pakistan may continue a suspension of NATO supply routes into Afghanistan for several weeks, the country's prime minister has said.
Speaking to the BBC, Yousuf Raza Gilani also refused to rule out closing Pakistani airspace to the US military.
Pakistan suspended the passage of NATO supplies on routes that run through the country into Afghanistan in protest against a strike by NATO forces on Pakistani border posts last month that killed 24 soldiers, an attack the government termed "a deliberate act of aggression".
Gilani said that there was a "credibility gap" in the relationship with the US. His government is currently carrying out a review of Pakistan's "terms of engagement" with Washington.
"[The suspension of supplies] has already entered its 17th day. Hundreds, if not thousands, of containers are parked on the borders, whereas many more are now waiting at the Karachi port," Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said.
"The chief minister of Balochistan province is even warning that he wants all these tankers and containers to go back, because they're coming under attack: they're sitting ducks.
"This is indeed a serious crisis, because most of the aviation fuel which is going into Afghanistan is going through strategic corridors, which both go through Pakistan.
"One is at Chaman, from where the cargo moves to Kandahar, and the other [through Torkham] to Kabul."
On Sunday, armed men killed the driver of a truck carrying NATO supplies and torched his, and six other vehicles, all of which were carrying oil for NATO troops in Afghanistan, police said.
The convoy was attacked while returning to the port city of Karachi from the Afghan border at Chaman.
Police said that "around eight gunmen" approached the convoy, ordered it to stop and started firing on the tankers.
"A driver of one of the tankers was also hit by a bullet and was killed instantly. The attackers later put the tankers on fire and escaped," said Inayat Bugti, a local police official.
Drone controversy
On Sunday, the US vacated the Shamsi air base in Pakistan's Balochistan province after a 15-day ultimatum given by Islamabad following the NATO air raid.
The withdrawal was completed when the final flight carrying US personnel and equipment flew out.
Nine planes carrying personnel and 20 carrying equipment - including drone aircraft and weapons - left for neighbouring Afghanistan, officials said.
Shamsi was believed to be the staging post for US drones operating in northwest Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, a senior Pakistani military official told a US television network on Sunday that his country "will shoot down any US drone that enters its territory".
Al Jazeeras Hyder reported that Pakistani parliamentarians had "asked their air chief whether they had the capability to shoot down the drones if they were to violate their frontiers".
"The air chief told them point blank that the decision to shoot down the drones was a political one and if they were ordered to do so they would comply," he said.
Al Jazeera's Islamabad bureau reports that the Pakistani military has confirmed that border posts have been beefed up with air defence weapons systems to thwart any intrusion or offensive action from across the border.
The decision regarding the Shamsi base was taken last month after PM Gilani called an emergency meeting of his military chiefs.
At the time, the foreign ministry also summoned Cameron Munter, the US ambassador in Islamabad, to "lodge a strong protest" against the attack.
Islamabad has remained adamant over the closure of the air base despite the Obama administrations pledge to conduct a full investigation into the attack.
In a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on November 27, Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's foreign minister, said such attacks were "totally unacceptable".
"They demonstrate complete disregard for international law and human life, and are in stark violation of Pakistani sovereignty," she said.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Pakistan NATO blockade to continue - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English
Prime minister says suspension may remain in place for several weeks, as tensions between Islamabad and US remain high.
Last Modified: 12 Dec 2011 13:04
The US military has left a Pakistani airbase as tensions with Islamabad continue to remain high [AFP/ISPR HANDOUT]
Pakistan may continue a suspension of NATO supply routes into Afghanistan for several weeks, the country's prime minister has said.
Speaking to the BBC, Yousuf Raza Gilani also refused to rule out closing Pakistani airspace to the US military.
Pakistan suspended the passage of NATO supplies on routes that run through the country into Afghanistan in protest against a strike by NATO forces on Pakistani border posts last month that killed 24 soldiers, an attack the government termed "a deliberate act of aggression".
Gilani said that there was a "credibility gap" in the relationship with the US. His government is currently carrying out a review of Pakistan's "terms of engagement" with Washington.
"[The suspension of supplies] has already entered its 17th day. Hundreds, if not thousands, of containers are parked on the borders, whereas many more are now waiting at the Karachi port," Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said.
"The chief minister of Balochistan province is even warning that he wants all these tankers and containers to go back, because they're coming under attack: they're sitting ducks.
"This is indeed a serious crisis, because most of the aviation fuel which is going into Afghanistan is going through strategic corridors, which both go through Pakistan.
"One is at Chaman, from where the cargo moves to Kandahar, and the other [through Torkham] to Kabul."
On Sunday, armed men killed the driver of a truck carrying NATO supplies and torched his, and six other vehicles, all of which were carrying oil for NATO troops in Afghanistan, police said.
The convoy was attacked while returning to the port city of Karachi from the Afghan border at Chaman.
Police said that "around eight gunmen" approached the convoy, ordered it to stop and started firing on the tankers.
"A driver of one of the tankers was also hit by a bullet and was killed instantly. The attackers later put the tankers on fire and escaped," said Inayat Bugti, a local police official.
Drone controversy
On Sunday, the US vacated the Shamsi air base in Pakistan's Balochistan province after a 15-day ultimatum given by Islamabad following the NATO air raid.
The withdrawal was completed when the final flight carrying US personnel and equipment flew out.
Nine planes carrying personnel and 20 carrying equipment - including drone aircraft and weapons - left for neighbouring Afghanistan, officials said.
Shamsi was believed to be the staging post for US drones operating in northwest Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, a senior Pakistani military official told a US television network on Sunday that his country "will shoot down any US drone that enters its territory".
Al Jazeeras Hyder reported that Pakistani parliamentarians had "asked their air chief whether they had the capability to shoot down the drones if they were to violate their frontiers".
"The air chief told them point blank that the decision to shoot down the drones was a political one and if they were ordered to do so they would comply," he said.
Al Jazeera's Islamabad bureau reports that the Pakistani military has confirmed that border posts have been beefed up with air defence weapons systems to thwart any intrusion or offensive action from across the border.
The decision regarding the Shamsi base was taken last month after PM Gilani called an emergency meeting of his military chiefs.
At the time, the foreign ministry also summoned Cameron Munter, the US ambassador in Islamabad, to "lodge a strong protest" against the attack.
Islamabad has remained adamant over the closure of the air base despite the Obama administrations pledge to conduct a full investigation into the attack.
In a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on November 27, Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's foreign minister, said such attacks were "totally unacceptable".
"They demonstrate complete disregard for international law and human life, and are in stark violation of Pakistani sovereignty," she said.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Pakistan NATO blockade to continue - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English
Pakistanisage
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Keep the clowns out and close the Pak Afghan borders permanently.
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