Tension defuses between the US and Pakistan

[Devil Soul]

Improving relations: Pak-US tensions ease through ‘quiet diplomacy’
By Kamran Yousaf
Published: October 17, 2011
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and the United States have gained significant ground in their efforts to improve anti-terror cooperation, which in recent weeks had been dented over the issue of how to deal with the Haqqani network.
In an apparent sign of de-escalation of months-old tensions, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to arrive here later this week. Clinton will arrive on October 20 for a two-day trip, said an official. However, both the US Embassy and the foreign ministry declined to comment on the visit.
Clinton’s trip materialised after both Pakistani and US officials described the positive discussions Marc Grossman had with the Pakistani leaders last week. A US diplomat, who preferred we did not print his name, said that Grossman had a very constructive trip to Pakistan. A Pakistani security official endorsed this assessment. Differences between the two countries have been narrowed down on some of the key issues, the official added, although he refused to divulge the details.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington on Sunday also indicated that the two countries had been able to normalise their ties through quiet diplomacy.
According to APP, Haqqani told a gathering of the Pakistani-American community in Portland, Oregon, that challenges remain in the wide-ranging bilateral ties but relations are gradually coming back to normal. “Both Islamabad and Washington realise we need each other and a strong, positive bilateral relationship is in the best interest of our two countries and their peoples,” said Haqqani.
Despite the positive whispers emanating from diplomatic sources, it is unclear if the two sides have been able to iron out their differences on how to tackle the Haqqani network, allegedly based in North Waziristan Agency.
The US remains adamant that the deadliest Afghan Taliban allied insurgent group must be dealt with forcefully. However, Secretary Clinton recently hinted at reaching out to the Haqqanis in the quest to seek a political solution to the Afghan impasse.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2011.
Improving relations: Pak-US tensions ease through

 

[Devil Soul]

Khar meets Munter: US-Pak ties inch towards normalcy
Published: October 17, 2011
ISLAMABAD: The US Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar vowed to bolster Pak-US ties, Express 24/7 reported on Monday.
Both the leaders said that the two countries should make the most out of the forthcoming visit of the US Foreign Secretary to Pakistan.
(Read: “Improving relations: Pak-US tensions ease through ‘quiet diplomacy’”)
Munter called on Khar at the foreign office in Islamabad today.
Both dignitaries discussed details of the forthcoming visit of US Foreign Secretary, Hillary Clinton to Pakistan.
Sources said that the issues related to regional security and peace process in Afghanistan also came under discussion among the two leaders.
Agendas of the Istanbul and Bonn conferences were also discussed during the meeting.
Both the leaders acknowledged that Clinton’s visit should ease tension between Pakistan and the United States.
As reported earlier, Munter met with Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to convey an ‘important message’ from the Obama administration concerning the Haqqani network.
(Read: “US-Pakistan relations: Munter-Kayani meeting served to cool rhetoric”)
The meeting was believed to have played a key role in cooling the rhetoric between the two sides following weeks of fiery statements on one of the most influential Afghan Taliban allied insurgent groups.
US officials confirmed the meeting, saying Ambassador Munter’s message from Washington was very clear: “The US wants to remain engaged with Pakistan.”
Khar meets Munter: US-Pak ties inch towards normalcy – The Express Tribune

 

[blain2]

thats why america giving billion of aid to a country whom's 90% citizen hate them(to emmie,
i am using my friend ID because they banned me for three day since he know nothing about this thing)

We disagree with some of their policies just the same as we have problems with yours in Kashmir. Aside from that, there is nothing personal between Pakistanis and Americans or Pakistanis and Indians. And Pakistanis do not hate Americans...its the same issue the world over, people have problems with the policies of the dominating superpower.

Aid has never made friends because it comes with strings attached.

For some, the interview of Pakistani Ambassador to the UN may be insightful given the history between the US and Pakistan. Pakistan was not always anti-American.
Interview: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7383599n&tag=mncol;lst;1

There were always some who were anti-American, but the past 10 years have seen bloodshed and carnage and the undermining of Pakistani interests (and outright disregard for our considerations) to such a point that many many more people view the US unfavourably.

Those of us who have watched Pakistan-US relations for a while are bothered by this state of affairs as this is not what Pakistan wants. Yet Pakistan cannot be held responsible for the all the failures and ills in Afghanistan with the Haqqani excuse. This is the reason there is pushback towards the US and they are not used to this.

The above articles point to a positive development as nobody is helped by the deterioration of ties between US and Pakistan (except for some Indians who mistakenly think this is a good thing).

 

[RKhan]

Finally some good news. Now we can focus on getting rid of this ***** TTP and their allies.

 

[Obambam]

With what is happening inside their country, this news is hardly surprising. Who would have expected such popular nationwide protests spreading across America like this. They are the wealthiest and most advanced country afterall.

 

[Devil Soul]

US confident of Islamabad’s ability to work on shared challenges
APP
WASHINGTON: The United States believes the Pakistani government is capable of working with it on shared challenges, with the State Department expressing support for a strong democracy in the key South Asian country.

“Much of our work in Pakistan is geared towards building the kind of institutions that will strengthen Pakistani democracy,” State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said in answer to a question at the daily briefing.

“Clearly, we want to see a strong democracy emerge in Pakistan that works side by side with the military and that is to the benefit of Pakistani people moving forward,” he added.

Asked if the US had confidence in the current Pakistani government’s ability and intent to work with the United Stated on shared challenges, the spokesman replied: “We do believe they’re capable of it, and certainly for our part, we’re willing to work with them to address those shared challenges.”

Questioned about the outcome of US Special Representative Marc Grossman’s recent visit to Islamabad, the spokesman said he has not received readout from Grossman’s trip but reaffirmed Washington’s desire to work constructively with Pakistan on dealing with shared challenges.

I would just say that, as he (Grossman) has said multiple times, that we’re working together with Pakistan. We want to find ways that we can act jointly on our shared challenges. We continue to pursue those interests.

We’re obviously as we’ve said many times; Pakistan is under enormous threat from extremist groups. We want to find ways to work constructively with them to address these challenges.

The spokesman’s comments came as the two countries struggled to overcome challenges in bilateral ties, arising from a spate of events related to fight against terrorism including retired US Admiral Mike Mullen’s controversial characterization of Pakistan’s contacts with the Afghan militant Haqqani group.

Islamabad has strongly rejected Mullen’s assertions.

Experts say despite differences, a cooperative US-Pakistan relationship remains critical to a successful outcome of the decade-old Afghan conflict.