News
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Stable ties with Pakistan critical to Afghan war success, says Panetta* US defence secretary voices confidence both countries can patch up differences
WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Leon E Panetta has voiced confidence that the United States and Pakistan can patch up their differences, emphasising that “ultimately, we can’t win the war in Afghanistan without being able to win in our relationship with Pakistan as well.”
He said restoring the strained relationship with the United States critical to long-term progress in Afghanistan. “I think it is going to be important, as we are able to move and progress in our efforts in Afghanistan, that we continue to do outreach in Pakistan,” he said, according to Pentagon.
The defence secretary spoke in the backdrop of November 26 NATO strikes on Mohmand border posts, which claimed lives of 24 Pakistani soldiers, causing a sharp decline in Islamabad-Washington relations.
“It is essential to stability in that region that we not only achieve a peaceful resolution with regards to Afghanistan, but that we are able to develop a more stable relationship with Pakistan as well,” Panetta said.
“If that region is ever going to find peace, it is going to happen not only by achieving stability in Afghanistan, but also by achieving some degree of stability in Pakistan as well,” he added.
The US relationship with Pakistan has been difficult and complicated, Panetta conceded. “But it is an important relationship, and it is one we have to continue to work at.” The defence secretary noted that Pakistan has provided important cooperation to the United States, over the years.
“At the same time, we have had some serious difficulties with regards to some of the operations that involve groups in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and groups along the border,” he remarked. The US Central Command is investigating the incident. “A number of interviews have been conducted, to determine factors involved in the incident”, Panetta said. He expressed hope that the investigation will shed light on exactly what happened, but said he has not yet received an update on any findings.
Obviously what took place has complicated that relationship, Panetta acknowledged.
“But I think the effort now is to try to see if we can restore that kind of communication with regards to those border incidents.”
Panetta was hopeful about reopening of Pakistani ground supply routes into landlocked Afghanistan. The routes were closed after the border incident, which infuriated the Pakistani state and society. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk