The New Pakistan US Relationship (After the Salala Check-Post Attack)

[PakShah]

Pakistan ties ‘too important’ to fail: US

State Department Spokesman Mark Toner. - File Photo

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Friday that it was committed to working with Pakistan and pledged support for democracy, amid friction between the war partners and a political showdown in Islamabad.

“The issues that we face – the challenges we face – are too important,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

“We desire a closer, more productive relationship with Pakistan both militarily and as well as politically. And we’re constantly working to build that closer cooperation,” he said.

Relations between the United States and Pakistan have severely deteriorated this year.

On November 26, US air strikes near the Afghan border killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, leading Islamabad to halt supply routes for Nato forces.

The Pentagon on Thursday released a probe that acknowledged significant US responsibility and pinned blame on mistrust between the countries. But the investigation said that US forces responded only after coming under fire.

Pakistan denied any fire and rejected the probe.

It has pressed President Barack Obama for an apology.

Tensions have also been rising within Pakistan, with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday delivering unprecedented sharp criticism against the military and accusing “conspirators” of plotting to bring down his government.

Asked about the dispute, Toner said: “We support the democratic process in Pakistan; we support the constitution and the rule of law, as well as the will of the Pakistani people.”

But he added: “This is a matter for the Pakistani people to resolve within their own political process.”

Pakistan’s army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, on Friday denied that the military was plotting to seize power.

The military has a long history of intervening in politics in Pakistan.

Pakistan ties ‘too important’ to fail: US | World | DAWN.COM
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Awww, why do the Americans keep crying about that they need Pakistan?
I thought they were saying they don't need Pakistan?
Clearly shows the Americans are confused, liars, and hypocrites!

 

[Developereo]

Steady now!

Hold firm on the NATO route closure: permanent means permanent.

 

[Sugarcane]

What's the meaning of FAIL is in yankee's dictionary?

 

[rama]

Amerikaa and Pakistan changed their relationship status to "ITS COMPLICATED"

 

[VelocuR]

Pakistan is sooo im----poor---taaant to work again! Nah, let them enjoy $400 per gas with new routes through NDN.

 

[Screambowl]

jahan pyar wahan ladai jhade aam baat hai kyu .. hehehehehehe.

i think partial re-opening of NATO supply will be soon

 

[Khan_patriot]

ab aya unth pahar ke neche......

 

[Major Sam]

jahan pyar wahan ladai jhade aam baat hai kyu .. hehehehehehe.

i think partial re-opening of NATO supply will be soon

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army on Friday rejected key findings from a US investigation into American air strikes last month that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and said the report was unlikely to repair the severely damaged relationship between the two countries.

The findings of the investigation were released on Thursday concluded that mistakes on both sides led to the deadly attack along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan has maintained its troops did nothing wrong and the attack was a deliberate act of aggression.

Pakistan refused to participate in the investigation, claiming past US probes into border incidents were biased.

It also retaliated against the attack by closing its border to Nato supplies meant for troops in Afghanistan and kicking the US out of a base used to operare American drones.

Pakistan`s response, while not surprising, is likely to worry Washington since the country`s support is critical for the Afghan war.

Pakistan not only provides a key route for supplies, but is important for peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Pakistan Army spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas rejected the report`s claim that Pakistani troops fired at American and Afghan forces first, triggering the incident.

He said in an interview on Friday that Pakistani forces retaliated only after coalition helicopters `started engagement`.

He also denied that Pakistan failed to notify Nato of the location of the two border posts that were attacked.

Gen Abbas expressed surprise and frustration that the US refused to apologise for the deaths of the soldiers, something many Pakistanis have demanded. He rejected an American offer to pay compensation to the victims` families, saying the army has its own welfare system.

`Nobody is interested in compensation,` he said. `It is not in our military culture to take money for a fallen soldier. It is abhorred. We will take care of our own,` he said.

Gen Abbas repeated the army`s claim that Pakistan had given Nato maps that clearly marked the location of the two outposts Volcano and Boulder located on a mountain ridge in the Mohmand tribal area.

He also said the Taliban do not use such structures.`Taliban do not make posts,` said Abbas. `No insurgents make posts. It is a running war against insurgents.

Abbas accused Nato and Afghan forces of `gross violations` of standard operating procedures, including not informing Pakistan that their forces would be conducting an overnight operation along the border on November 25-26 when the attack occurred.

He also accused US and Nato forces of ignoring established rules of engagement aimed at avoiding friendly fire incidents. These rules demand troops under attack contact Pakistan to determine whether fire is coming from one of the country`s outposts.

He said Pakistan informed Nato forces in Afghanistan that the Volcano post had been hit, ‘but they kept firing and hit Boulder as well as the reinforcements’ Gen Abbas gave no indication of when Pakistan might lift its embargo on Nato supplies to troops in Afghanistan.

However, he indicated the government would levy additional fees when the route is eventually reopened.

`You can`t use our port, destroy our roads and get away without paying for it, he said.-AP

 

[PakShah]

US wants closer political, military ties with Pakistan

* State Dept says Washington supports democracy in Pakistan

* Pakistanis are to resolve country’s political issues themselves

WASHINGTON: The United States has said that it will continue to work with Pakistan towards improving bilateral relations, which saw significant challenges throughout the year.

The State Department’s comments came amid strained relations between the sides following the November 26 NATO cross-border attacks on Mohmand checkposts, which resulted in the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers.

“We desire a closer, more productive relationship with Pakistan both militarily and as well as politically. And we’re constantly working to build that closer cooperation. As I said, we’ve been very forthright in acknowledging that this is a relationship that needs to work,” acting spokesman Mark Toner said.

The current year began with the killing of two Pakistanis by CIA contractor Raymond Davis in Lahore, before tensions flared following the May 2 unilateral US raid on Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad. The November 26 attack was the latest incident that led to heightened tensions between the sides. However, the State Department spokesman said the US was committed to working with Pakistan.

“We’ve been, I think, pretty candid in saying that there have been some significant obstacles throughout this year in the relationship,” Toner said.

“But at each juncture, we’ve tried to address those challenges and we have recommitted ourselves to working with Pakistan. And we’re going to continue to do that because we believe we need to work with Pakistan,” Toner remarked.

Since it began a high-stakes engagement in the region a decade ago, with the start of the war against terror in Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the United States has greatly relied on Pakistan’s support. They have required assistance both for security on the porous Pak-Afghan border and transportation of supplies to landlocked Afghanistan.

In return, the US has supported Pakistan with economic and military assistance, but there have been differences over several issues related to the lingering Afghan conflict on Pakistan’s western border, which has also impacted on Pakistan’s internal security and economy.

The spokesman added that Washington would continue to brief senior Pakistani officials on the findings of a US Central Command (CENTCOM) report into the November 26 incident.

“The report will be published, at some point go public. And we’ve been very forthright in discussing its contents. We’re going to continue to engage with them as we go forward,” Toner said, adding that a briefing by CENTCOM chief General James Mattis to the Pakistani military leadership, scheduled for this week, had been postponed due to Pakistan’s internal situation.

Questioned about political situation in Pakistan, the spokesman reiterated Washington’s support for democracy in the country, and added that this was a matter for the people to resolve through the political process.

“We support the democratic process in Pakistan, we support the constitution and the rule of law, as well as the will of the Pakistani people. We want to - we believe, rather, that this is a matter for the Pakistani people to resolve within their own political process,” Toner remarked. app

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
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All lies and nonsense!

The Americans are just scared because they are losing in Afghanistan, and the day America leaves Afghanistan, the world will be a different place!

Don't forget how they slapped sanctions on us in the 1990's and ditched us after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Now they are scared that China will stand up to western hegemony.

All the western elites are scared and panicking!

European leaders say the Euro and the European Union could collapse!

Even recently China launched a satellite for Nigeria. The west is scared so badly that now they are doing this puppy talk.

We need to increase military and political cooperation with China , Russia, and Brazil.
Brazil supports Argentina on Falkland Islands issue. Brazil is standing up to UK for Argentina.
Check out this link:
AJE - Al Jazeera English

We need to become a full member of SCO ASAP.
Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to a new world order.

 

[Developereo]

- Provide Pakistan with a nuclear deal similar to India's.
- Pressure Australia to sell uranium to Pakistan like they did for India.
- Provide Pakistan with trade exemptions and favorable trade terms.
- Reverse media demonization of Pakistan (we all know how 'independent' is the Western media).
- Stop propping up India in Afghanistan at Pakistan's expense.

Once all these actions have been done, the above premise can be taken more seriously.

 

[untitled]

...
Once all these actions have been done, the above premise can be taken more seriously.

And ask Hollywood to make a movie which shows Pakistan in positive light

 

[Devil Soul]

US Gears Up For Limited Relationship With Pakistan
WASHINGTON, Dec 25, 2011 (AFP) -US officials believe the country's relationship with Pakistan has been seriously damaged and a counterterrorism alliance can survive only in a limited form, The New York Times reported late Sunday.

Citing unnamed US and Pakistani officials, the newspaper said officials acknowledge this deterioration will complicate the ability to launch attacks against Islamic extremists based in Pakistan and move supplies into Afghanistan.

US-Pakistani relations took a serious hit last month after a series of US air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers near the border with Afghanistan.

A joint US-NATO investigation concluded that a disastrous spate of errors and botched communications led to the deaths. Pakistan has rejected the findings.

The United States will be forced to restrict drone strikes, limit the number of its spies and soldiers on the ground and spend more to transport supplies through Pakistan to allied troops in Afghanistan, the report said.

United States aid to Pakistan will also be reduced sharply, the paper noted.

"We’ve closed the chapter on the post-9/11 period," The Times quoted a senior US official as saying. "Pakistan has told us very clearly that they are re-evaluating the entire relationship."

American officials say the relationship will endure in some form, but that the contours will not be clear until Pakistan completes its wide-ranging review of the November incident in the coming weeks, the paper pointed out.

 

[Donatello]

Spies? I say find them on a Red Alert basis. Execute them and throw them in the Sea.

 

[lamba]

Why is US sending another Aircraft Carrier to Support Operation in Afghanistan?

Carriers already operating in the 5th Fleet: CVN72 Stennis

Inbound Carriers: Abraham Lincoln

picvalley.net / v.php?p=u / 2666 / 21860592378358776213248833063DmSrfb3SWMmYCjC5Qvj . JPG

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Can anyone interpret the above map

 

[somebozo]

hoooray! Our country, our right to choose with whom we deal!