US Assured New Govt Wants to Rejuvenate Ties
By Baqir Sajjad Syed
US Charge d’affaires Angela Egler calls on Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday — PID website
Islamabad: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday assured the United States that the new government intended to rejuvenate bilateral ties.
She was talking to US Charge d’affaires Angela Egler, who had called on her.
This was the first reported face-to-face meeting between the new government and US officials in Islamabad since Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was elected following Imran Khan’s ouster through a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly.
Mr Khan had blamed the US for conspiring with local collaborators for his ouster. The former prime minister based his allegation on a cable received from Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington in which State Department official Donald Lu had, ahead of the submission of no-confidence motion by the then opposition, said that bilateral ties could suffer if Mr Khan survived the no-trust move.
The National Security Committee, which met on Friday, had rejected Mr Khan’s conspiracy allegations.
Ms Khar told the American diplomat that “Pakistan values its relations with the United States and seeks to further expand bilateral relations based on mutual respect, trust and equality”.
The meeting took place a day after FO Spokesman Asim Iftikhar at a media briefing had called for moving past the cablegate controversy so that ties with the United States, “a key partner”, could be taken forward.
Mr Iftikhar had also noted that “both sides are keen to build on the long-standing relationships between our two countries and to further strengthen and diversify this relationship”.
According to another report ‘ Foreign Office wants ‘cable controversy’ put to rest ’ t he Foreign Office on Monday called for moving past the so-called “Lettergate” controversy so that ties with the United States, “a key partner”, could be taken forward.
FO spokesperson Asim Iftikhar, while speaking at a media briefing, said that following the National Security Committee’s conclusion that the Imran Khan government was not ousted through a “conspiracy”, it was time to “put the matter to rest” and “move on” by “concentrating on our relationships with our partners” in the country’s “best interest”.
He further noted that the US was one of Pakistan’s key partners.
The National Security Committee, which met last Friday, rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegation that his government was dislodged through a US conspiracy.
Mr Khan, who was voted out of the office through the opposition’s no-confidence motion, based his foreign plot allegation on a diplomatic cable received from Washington on March 7 in which it was stated that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu had told Pakistan’s ambassador that there could be implications for bilateral ties if Mr Khan survived the vote of no confidence.
The former prime minister has tried to use the allegation to rally public support in his favor.
The FO spokesman noted that the NSC’s conclusion was based on assessments from all stakeholders. He warned that issues like “Cablegate” could potentially complicate the country’s external relations.
The US State Department has also welcomed the NSC statement.
Mr Iftikhar said: “Both sides are keen to build on the long-standing relationships between our two countries and to further strengthen and diversify this relationship.”
In reply to a question, the spokesman rejected the speculation in media that Ambassador Asad Majeed, who was the envoy in Washington and the author of the cable, had been subjected to pressure during his appearance in the NSC.
There were reports in electronic media that the ambassador had been pressured to change his statement, which he reportedly refused to do. The channel that aired the news was later served a show cause notice by Pemra for airing the allegedly ‘fake news’.
“There is no possibility of any editing of the communication either,” the spokesman said.
Mr Iftikhar refused to indulge in the ‘interference’ versus ‘conspiracy’ debate.
“I think it is not for me to get into the meaning and semantics of these terms. It is quite clear the matter has been adequately and sufficiently discussed and addressed in the meetings of the NSC,” he maintained…
Mr Iftikhar also rejected the PTI’s allegation that the cable was not timely presented to the then Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who belatedly came to know about its existence.
“Let me state categorically that such assertions are unfounded. There is no question or possibility of hiding or holding back something like that,” he said … - Dawn
