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Pakistan government to betray all, Resumption of Nato Supplies by May 17!

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More importantly where is People of Pakistan and Parliament of Pakistan? PM Gillani going to ditch Parliament once again?

the parliment already expressed its decision but in reality can we face the US + Allies pressure and can we seriously afford another era of sanctions? Perhaps a deal could be reach - NATO route for IP gas!
 
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Interesting development...Will be very amusing to see if the Mullahs of DPC will still block the vans through "non-violent" agitations..
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NATO supplies cannot be suspended indefinitely: FM Khar - geo.tv

ON BOARD PM’S AIRCRAFT: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Pakistan could not suspend NATO supplies indefinitely.

Speaking to reporters on-board the PM’s aircraft as it was returning from London, Khar stressed that Pakistan could not afford a confrontation with NATO which consists of 48 countries.

“Pakistan is a member of the UN Security Council and we are aware of our responsibilities” Khar said.

Pakistan suspended supplies following a NATO attack on a check post in Salala in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed. The incident strained ties between the US and Pakistan as Islamabad has called upon Washington to render an apology which it has refused to do so.

NATO Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen has stressed the importance of reopening the supply route and during a recent news conference also hinted that ties with Pakistan would be severely impacted if it failed to do so.
 
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The NATO supplies are going to be opened. Just a matter of when now IMO.

And if opened, atleast we can get some strings attached.
 
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The NATO supplies are going to be opened. Just a matter of when now IMO.

And if opened, atleast we can get some strings attached.

If Pakistan gets a few "goodies" then yes, but it depends on the "goodies" whether the blockade would have been worth it.
 
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If Pakistan gets a few "goodies" then yes, but it depends on the "goodies" whether the blockade would have been worth it.

Well Cheng lets wait and see lol

You obviously were trolling. After all Indian and Pakistani independence was not due to anyone particularly. You are going off-topic, what value that suggestion means is always debatable, just in another thread :)

It was in response to one of your Indian mates suggesting that Pakistan owed its existence to America
 
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Well Cheng lets wait and see lol...............

Not much longer to wait, apparently:

(now let's see what lollipops Pakistan gets in return)

from: Time to

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign minister indicated Monday the time has come to reopen the country’s Afghan border to Nato troop supplies, saying the government had made its point by closing the route for nearly six months in retaliation for deadly US airstrikes on its troops.

“It was important to make a point, Pakistan has made a point and we now need to move on and go into a positive zone and try to conduct our relations,” Khar said during a press conference in Islamabad when asked whether she believed Pakistan should reopen the supply route.

Asked whether Pakistan would allow a resumption of Nato supplies, Information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who was also spoke alongside the foreign minister, said a decision would be made in the coming days.

“There are a lot of sensitivities,” he told reporters. “How we can share things with you which are under discussion? We will share it in the next three to four days.”

The ministers’ comments offered the clearest indication yet that Pakistan is ready to reopen supply lines, even though Washington has so far refused to apologise for last year’s attack and end drone strikes in the country as demanded by Pakistan’s parliament.

Speaking to media representatives, the foreign minister said Pakistan was negotiating with the US and Nato on the same terms that were approved by the parliament for the process of re-engagement.

Moreover, the minister said that the parliamentary recommendations had proved that only a minority of Pakistanis were opposed to normal relations with the Western world.

Pakistan wants to continue to be a facilitator and enabler for the international community, said Khar, adding that the issue is not just that of relations with the US but with 42 countries that have stakes in Afghanistan.

The government is likely to face domestic backlash for reopening the Nato route given the rampant anti-American sentiment in the country and vocal opposition by hardliners.

The move could also, however, free up over a billion dollars in US military aid that has been frozen for the last year.

Pakistan closed transit routes to Afghanistan after a Nato cross-border air attack last November killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at the Salala checkpost on the Pak-Afghan border.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had hinted on Friday that Pakistan could miss out on the Nato summit in Chicago on May 20-21 if it failed to reopen supply routes in time.

Pakistan is keen to attend the summit that will largely focus on the Afghan war, and an invitation is likely contingent on the country allowing troop supplies to resume.

The conference in Chicago, to be attended by more than 60 leaders and heads of state, is regarded as a crucial summit which will map out a future for Afghanistan after most foreign troops withdraw from the warn-ton country by the end of 2014.
 
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We totally agree with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister’s statement that “we need to move beyond Salala”. Salala was a mistake due to the actions of both sides and we have regretted the loss of lives in that incident. Much has happened in the last few months and most advantages have been taken by the terrorists. We have seen an increase of their activities inside Pakistan. They got a chance to regroup and attack innocent people; they targeted security personnel and even attacked a jail to free condemned terrorists. It is high time that we get together and free the region from these terrorists. Opening the NATO routes is one step in the right direction. NATO is winding down its operation in Afghanistan. We would like to see a peaceful and prospering Afghanistan which will not only be in the interest of Pakistan, but the whole world that has been affected by terrorism.


Maj David Nevers
DET-United States Central Command
U.S. Central Command
 
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Confrontation over?: All set to unblock NATO supply routes


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At a joint news conference with Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Foreign Minister Khar went a step further by saying that Pakistan wanted to ‘move beyond’ the Salala incident as it had made its point by keeping the Nato routes shut for almost six months.

" We are engaged in a dialogue for the resumption of Nato supplies in light of parliament’s recommendations," PM Yousaf Raza Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Amidst growing realisation that it cannot keep the Nato supply route blocked for long, Pakistan has dropped the clearest hint yet that it might review a decision that has put its relations with not ‘only the US but another 42 countries’ in a tailspin.

Monday saw a flurry of activity in the federal capital including a high-level civil-military huddle at the Presidency suggesting the government’s willingness to revive cooperation with the US-led foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan.

The meetings followed Sunday’s huddle of top military commanders from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nato in Rawalpindi where, according to officials, the issues of Nato supply routes and last year’s deadly US air raid were also discussed.

On Monday, back-to-back statements by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar made it abundantly clear that the government is ready to drop its insistence on a formal US apology over the killing of two dozen Pakistani troops in the airstrikes on border posts in Salala, Mohmand Agency.

“It’s not a matter of one, but 43 countries,” the premier told journalists in Islamabad, giving an indication that by its refusal to lift the blockade Islamabad would risk its ties with not just the US but all countries of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).


Gilani conceded that “Pakistan and the US are engaged in a dialogue for the resumption of Nato supplies in light of parliament’s recommendations.”

At a joint news conference with Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Foreign Minister Khar went a step further by saying that Pakistan wanted to ‘move beyond’ the Salala incident as it had made its point by keeping the Nato routes shut for almost six months.

“I think we need a closure on that and move on,” Khar said after attending a high-powered meeting jointly chaired by President Asif Zardari and Premier Gilani. The meeting was attended by Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and key members of the federal cabinet.


An official told The Express Tribune that the gathering at the Presidency was meant to take stock of the ongoing negotiations between Pakistan and the US to reset their troubled ties.

The talks, which have been going on for a couple of weeks, appear to have moved closer to a deal that would pave way for the resumption of Nato supplies as well as Pakistan’s participation in a key Nato summit.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had said earlier this week that Pakistan’s participation in the summit in Chicago, scheduled for May 20-21, hinges on its decision on the supply route for the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan.

Ahead of the key meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet today (Tuesday), the Kaira-Khar press conference is being seen as an attempt to prepare ground for a possible decision to lift the blockade.

Foreign Minister Khar also confirmed that negotiations between Pakistan and the US were heading in the right direction.

“We want to continue to be a facilitator, enabler and not a blocker,” was her response when asked if the government wanted to lift the Nato blockade.

“It was important to make a point, and Pakistan has made a point and now we need to move on and go into a positive zone,” she added.

She confirmed that the issue of unconditional apology for the Nato air strikes was currently being discussed. “As demanded by parliament, we have raised this issue with the US at all levels,” Khar maintained. However, she did not say if the US had made any commitment to tender an apology.


In reply to a question, Information Minister Kaira reiterated the government’s opposition to US drone strikes inside the tribal belt. “As far as the government is concerned we are very much clear that drone strikes are a violation of our sovereignty,” he added.

“There are protests in Islamabad, there are protests in other cities against drone attacks, but why there are no such protests in the tribal areas,” the minister questioned.

Meeting of oil tanker owners

In anticipation of a possible lifting of the Nato blockade, the petroleum ministry has convened a meeting of oil tanker owners in Islamabad on Tuesday, sources told The Express Tribune.

“All concerned officials will attend the meeting which will discuss the impact of a possible reopening of Nato supply routes,” a source said.


Another source added that security officials would also attend the meeting and brief the oil tanker owners on the steps to be taken for the security of their vehicles against attacks from Taliban insurgents.

A Peshawar-based oil tanker owner told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity that they have been asked by the petroleum ministry to stay alert because the government is set to reopen the Nato routes.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2012.

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Why it recommended to open supply routes for the NATO terrorists? It is not just one Pakistan soldiers killed but 25-28 killed by NATO terrorists. Is the Parliament recommendation failure? Higher supply fees including?

“It’s not a matter of one, but 43 countries,” the premier told journalists in Islamabad, giving an indication that by its refusal to lift the blockade Islamabad would risk its ties with not just the US but all countries of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

How is that positive steps?
 
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Why it recommended to open supply routes for the NATO terrorists? It is not just one Pakistan soldiers killed but 25-28 killed by NATO terrorists. Is the Parliament recommendation failure? Higher supply fees including?



How is that positive steps?

One has to look at the entire picture, not just that one accident at Salala.
 
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Quite unfortunate that an illegitimate Ex-Con PM is making such a huge decision and thrusting Pakistan once again into the fore-front of this war despite the entire Nation's disagreement with it. This by far is the most undemocratic decision ever in the history of Pakistan.

For this decision the illegitimate ex-con PM deserves a trial of High Treason, since he will eventually be found unfit as PM ab initio to the contempt decision and from there on he won't have immunity for his actions as the illegitimate PM of Pakistan.

Govt capitulates, Nato supply routes to reopen - thenews.com.pk

ISLAMABAD: The combined might of the US and its NATO allies plus the serving of their our-way-or-the-highway ultimatum to the Pakistan government appear to have achieved the desired result of forcing a 'pragmatic' response from Islamabad. In a critical meeting on Monday of the country's top political and military leadership, it was decided that the hitherto blocked NATO supply routes would be reopened in the immediate future though the fig leaf of the Defence Cabinet Committee and ultimately the federal cabinet deciding the issue has been kept in place. Initially, the president and the prime minister had an exclusive huddle and later the two leaders were joined by the top military commander, select ministers and other senior government functionaries.

The meeting, presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari was attended by Prime Minister Yusif Raza Gilani, Defence Minister Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik, Finance Secretary Wajid Rana, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, DG ISI Lt Gen Zaheer-ul-Islam and Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar.

According to sources, it was decided that the Defence Cabinet Committee (DCC, which meets today, would make the final recommendation to the cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, but for all practical purposes the decision to reopen supplies has been taken. In a visible indication of things to come, transport company owners too have been ‘advised’ to immediately send their trailers and container carriers to Karachi for the loading of NATO shipments and hundreds of trucks are reported to have left for Karachi from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As for the official version of the meeting, spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that, "the regional security situation was discussed during the meeting".

It may be recalled that Pakistan had blocked all NATO supplies in the wake of the Salala massacre of 24 Pak army soldiers and officers by US/NATO forces in what was claimed by Pakistan to be an unprovoked act of aggression. Pakistan had insisted on a full and formal apology from the US, which never came, and a total review of the reengagement process including serious fiscal readjustments. For months, Islamabad had held its line and forced US and NATO into a tight corner but apparently all is set to change in the coming days.

According to the official press note, earlier the prime minister briefed the president about his recent visit to the UK and his meetings with British dignitaries and other engagements during the visit. The president congratulated the prime minister for his successful and fruitful visit that would greatly help further strengthen Enhanced Strategic Dialogue and partnership with the UK. The current situation was also discussed during the meeting with special reference to the energy crisis and the law and order situation in the country.

Online adds: While reviewing the current political situation in the country on Monday, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that the PPP would fight for its rights within the framework of the law and Constitution.

The spokesperson informed Online that both the leaders resolved not to surrender before the opposition and declared that the PPP would fight for its rights within the domain of the Constitution and law.

Zardari claimed that the PPP had rendered great sacrifices to restore democracy in the country, therefore the party knows very well how to deal with the challenges, adding that the PPP government would give relief to the masses, which is their topmost priority.

APP adds: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday said the relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) are significant as their magnitude stretches to 48 countries.

"This is not a matter of one, but 48 countries," Gilani said while speaking to the Chinese media after addressing the visiting 100-member youth delegation from China at the Prime Minister House here.

The prime minister said Pakistan wants good relations with the entire international community including its neighbouring countries.He said the issue of Nato supply-lines would be resolved in the light of parliamentary recommendations, adding that Pakistan wanted to settle issues with Nato and the US permanently. "We want to settle the issues regarding Nato and the relations with the US once and for all," he said.

One has to look at the entire picture, not just that one accident at Salala.

The bigger picture is worse. What good is coming our way by re-opening the routes? Money? US won't pay anything, the sanctions are coming either way. US will continue to kill our civilians and our soldiers.

The US has not even apologized, let alone ensured through processes and new lines of communication that such incidents won't take place. Rather by all counts they are saying we deserved to be killed since their official line is we fired first, something refuted by Pakistanis.

The bigger picture is worse. According to the bigger picture the US views that it needs to kill more Pakistanis, civilians and soldiers to satisfy itself.

Take it from me... The only reason that Pak government is doing anything is for money and you can quote me a few months from now, that they won't even get the money they are promised.

US is going to use the terrorism accusation, the HN accusation and withhold the money too. There won't be an iota worth of improvement in the situation of Pakistan.
 
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Even most of Pakistan's anti American media is reacting lightly. The opposition is protesting very mildly.
It seems both politicians and army are on board. Most of the media is grudgingly accepting it without much noise.
 
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US is going to pay around 2000 $, while we want around 4000$.

Zardari has done another thing that is specific to politicians. US said they will give apology, Army agreed, but then Zardari said wait for the parliament resolution, so that we can egt more votes and get an image in the public. Kabul attack happens, US apologises to them, and then tells us to take a hike.

Everybody is double crossing everyone. COAS thinks he knows it, Zardari thinks he knows it, and the next moment, we are neck deep in mud.

Our economy can never hold us like this, if the US stops it aid. After two years, if we get things right, maybe we can tell the US to take a hike, but then we want to be part of the endgame, which is not happening at the moment. Our expatriates send us more money than our exports!!!

So, this was always gong to happen. ISAF had enough suppplies for 6 months. Now , 6 months are gone, and they are feeling the heat, so are we.

This was a huge blunder by us. Blocking the supplies was right, you don't sell your country. But the blunder was that we were too short-sighted. We just said, 'jo hoga dekha jaye ga'. And now, we are in this state.

Government wants votes, opposition wants votes,Obama wants votes. And Pakistan needs....???
 
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One has to remember that despite having very different ideas on how to achieve something and unproven speculations of fringe motivations accorded to each sides, the goals of America and Pakistan align on more things on the WoT than differ.

Pakistan views Talibanistic thought as an enemy, we in Pakistan love our culture, our modernism and the certain liberties that it accords us that won't be compatible with someone so backward as Taliban. We don't necessarily militarily oppose Taliban due to lack of resources, potential of benefit in keeping India out of Afghanistan, but we oppose them in every other way. Remember we didn't join the war without thinking that this would mean an end to the future of Taliban as it existed way back in the 90s. We wanted it. Let's be clear on that, not even 1% of Pakistanis would want the type of country where the religious police mandates the kind of life that is associated with living under the Taliban.

We didn't want it ever for Afghanistan either.

Now military aspects are of course different. The war has unfortunately brought in a very narrow minded people to power in Afghanistan who cannot separate the military aspect of our support to the Taliban as a counter measure to India, and our moral and ethical disapproval of them. With much regret, the Americans and the Afghans are over stretching our association with them and ignoring that if India was removed from this equation our one and only goal would be to remove the Taliban as well. We played our part very well for the first 5 years when Indian meddling wasn't that high. It quickly changed as the war effort suddenly saw the emergence of a militant organization as the BLA.

India is a part of it, due to the narrow mindedness of both Americans and the Afghan people. They are even promoting India's meddling and covering for them. There are petty gains for them in doing so, none of which relate to this war effort.

There is some internal schizophrenia within the American way of thinking. Either they can win this war on terror by supporting Pakistan's only wish to not have India give militant support within Pakistan or they can prop up India as a countermeasure to China.

We need to be clear, that in all other cases, we support the United States as its goals do not differ from us. By closing the supply route to them we hurt the war effort which ultimately hurts one of our goals. On our part we believe (with good reason) that this terrorism problem can be handled through diplomatic channels with the Taliban groups. Many non-aggression pacts have been holding for several years now. But that doesn't mean if given the chance we wouldn't spread modern civilization to the Taliban groups and their controlled areas. We don't like their culture, their Islamist ideals. We stand by our ideals, which are very similar to the average American.

As a two people who have been victims of poor decision making, and a vicious cycle of one-upmanship and subtle manipulations, we have to wise up to this and wise up to revising our relationship. As a first step America must open the way, it has to try to make things workable between us.

It apologizes, we open the route.

It moves against Indians, we move against Haqqanis.

The future must be looked as the future of the war that was started, not the geopolitics and interests of the US and Pakistan that have emerged today. From how things were and felt 10 years ago, we still believe in those same causes.

Nice attempt. Waking upto reality, cozying with the Americans, your estranged buddies and expose the true big bad boy in the room -India. So it is indeed true that India completely dominates and controls the way Pakistan views the world so much so that for acting against Haqqani and their ilk whose idealogy threatens Pakistan the most, US has to act against India. Am I hearing it right ?!

They will not move against Indians and Pakistanis will open the route..well they already have. Pakistan is in NO position whatsoever to dictate things to even Afghanistan, let alone USA.
 
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It was in response to one of your Indian mates suggesting that Pakistan owed its existence to America

Well yes..Indira Gandhi was forced to stop in her tracks in 71 by none other than Nixon. So in a sense it is true.
 
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