News
Friday, April 27, 2012
Pakistan, US resume talksUS pushes for reopening lines of communication
* Grossman says US ready for talks on reopening supplies
* Offers condolences for Salala deaths
* Pakistan says new arrangements will have be worked out for resumption of supplies
ISLAMABAD: A special US envoy met Pakistani government and army officers on Thursday in the federal capital in an effort to get the country to reopen American and NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.
Washington’s envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman said during a joint conference with Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani that the US was ready for talks on re-opening the supply lines and clearing outstanding payments to Pakistan to meet the expenses of military operations in its tribal areas to fight Taliban and al Qaeda.
“We are ready to get to the work. We want to work to reopen the ground lines of communication. We want to discuss several outstanding claims for the Coalition Support Fund,” Grossman said.
He also said he did not expect to get an immediate commitment that the routes would reopen but that “the task now is to begin a conversation about how to move forward”.
Grossman met army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Foreign Affairs Ministry officials to discuss the supply routes. A host of issues, including bilateral relations and regional security, were discussed in this meeting – first ever after the Salala incident.
Grossman said Washington respected the Pakistani parliamentary review process on new contours of relations and the seriousness with which it was carried out. He said the US respected Pakistan’s sovereignty and was willing to improve its ties in all fields.
Expressing regret and sorrow on the Salala incident, he again offered condolence on behalf of the US. He said efforts would be made to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future, as both Pakistan and US were partners in the war against terrorism, they had common enemy and needed common strategy to fight this menace.
On the other hand, Foreign Secretary Jilani said, “Pakistan desires to reengage with the United States as per parliamentary guidelines.” He said, “We have to work out new arrangements as and when we get direction from the cabinet.”
He said the bilateral relationship should be based on transparency, trust and public ownership. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace, security and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
Replying to a question regarding NATO supplies, the foreign secretary said the issue was part of the discussion with US but no decision in this regard had yet been taken. He said there would be more talks on the issue.
To a question on drone attacks, Jilani reiterated Islamabad’s stand that they were illegal, counter-productive and unacceptable. He said the drone issue was discussed in meetings at the civil and military leadership of the two countries. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk