Omar1984
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Pakistan threatens to cut US ties
Pakistan's prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has ruled out "business as usual" with the United States after a NATO attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Saturday's air strikes on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan have complicated US attempts to ease a crisis in relations with Islamabad and stabilise the region before foreign combat troops leave Afghanistan.
"Business as usual will not be there," Mr Gilani told CNN when asked if ties with the United States would continue.
"We have to have something bigger so as to satisfy my nation.
"You cannot win any war without the support of the masses," he added. "We need the people with us."
The relationship, he said, would continue only if based on "mutual respect and mutual interest."
Asked if Pakistan was receiving that respect, Mr Gilani replied: "At the moment, not."
Pakistan's army has threatened to drastically curtail cooperation with Washington on Afghanistan in the wake of the attack.
"This could have serious consequences in the level and extent of our cooperation," military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said.
Pakistan has a long history of ties to militant groups in Afghanistan and is uniquely positioned to help bring about a peace settlement, a top foreign policy and security goal for the Obama administration.
Washington believes Islamabad can play a critical role in efforts to pacify Afghanistan before all NATO combat troops pull out in 2014, and cannot afford to alienate its ally.
Pakistan shut down NATO supply routes into Afghanistan in retaliation for the weekend incident, the worst of its kind since Islamabad allied itself with Washington in 2001.
"We have been here before. But this time it's much more serious," said Farzana Sheikh, associate fellow of the Asia program at Chatham House in London.
"The government has taken a very stern view. It is not quite clear at this stage what more Pakistani authorities can do, apart from suspending supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan."
Adding a new element to tensions and a diplomatic boost for Islamabad, Pakistan's ally China said it was "deeply shocked" by the incident and expressed "strong concern for the victims and profound condolences for Pakistan".
Russia, which has been seeking warmer relations with Pakistan as worry grows over the NATO troop pullout in Afghanistan, said it was "unacceptable" to violate the sovereignty of states even when hunting "terrorists."
NATO described the killings as a "tragic, unintended incident." US officials say a NATO probe and a separate American probe will seek to determine what really happened.
Pakistan threatens to cut US ties - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Pakistan's prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has ruled out "business as usual" with the United States after a NATO attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Saturday's air strikes on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan have complicated US attempts to ease a crisis in relations with Islamabad and stabilise the region before foreign combat troops leave Afghanistan.
"Business as usual will not be there," Mr Gilani told CNN when asked if ties with the United States would continue.
"We have to have something bigger so as to satisfy my nation.
"You cannot win any war without the support of the masses," he added. "We need the people with us."
The relationship, he said, would continue only if based on "mutual respect and mutual interest."
Asked if Pakistan was receiving that respect, Mr Gilani replied: "At the moment, not."
Pakistan's army has threatened to drastically curtail cooperation with Washington on Afghanistan in the wake of the attack.
"This could have serious consequences in the level and extent of our cooperation," military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said.
Pakistan has a long history of ties to militant groups in Afghanistan and is uniquely positioned to help bring about a peace settlement, a top foreign policy and security goal for the Obama administration.
Washington believes Islamabad can play a critical role in efforts to pacify Afghanistan before all NATO combat troops pull out in 2014, and cannot afford to alienate its ally.
Pakistan shut down NATO supply routes into Afghanistan in retaliation for the weekend incident, the worst of its kind since Islamabad allied itself with Washington in 2001.
"We have been here before. But this time it's much more serious," said Farzana Sheikh, associate fellow of the Asia program at Chatham House in London.
"The government has taken a very stern view. It is not quite clear at this stage what more Pakistani authorities can do, apart from suspending supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan."
Adding a new element to tensions and a diplomatic boost for Islamabad, Pakistan's ally China said it was "deeply shocked" by the incident and expressed "strong concern for the victims and profound condolences for Pakistan".
Russia, which has been seeking warmer relations with Pakistan as worry grows over the NATO troop pullout in Afghanistan, said it was "unacceptable" to violate the sovereignty of states even when hunting "terrorists."
NATO described the killings as a "tragic, unintended incident." US officials say a NATO probe and a separate American probe will seek to determine what really happened.
Pakistan threatens to cut US ties - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
