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Friday, January 20, 2012
Pak-US relations on hold for re-evaluation: Khar* Foreign minister says Pakistan must complete re-evaluation process before reengagement
* Islamabad wants more realistic US approach to Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has warned Washington against pushing Islamabad to go after terrorist groups or bringing them to the Afghan peace process.
“Now that the re-evaluation process is underway as we speak, so till the time that that re-evaluation process is not completed, we cannot start the reengagement,” the minister said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday.
The November 26 NATO attack on the border with Afghanistan, which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, plunged relations between Washington and Islamabad to their chilliest levels in years.
Yet Khar struck a positive note, stressing the long alliance was vital for the two countries. “I think this will also give us the ability, if we play it right, to strengthen the partnership and to make it much, much more effective,” she said.
“Let me categorically say that we consider our relations and our relationship with the US to be an extremely important one.”
Khar said proposals for the tenor and rules for relations with the US could be out within days.
The foreign minister rejected some media reports that Islamabad had snubbed a request by US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman to visit, saying it was a matter of choosing a more beneficial time.
Pakistan argues that the United States needs to be patient and gain a greater understanding of the region’s complexities before acting, and that pressure would only hurt efforts to pacify Afghanistan.
‘Push’ is never wise. I think that every country must be allowed to develop their own strategy and their own timing, said Khar, stressing that another incursion by NATO or the US would be harmful.
“What is unacceptable to Pakistan is to have any troops on the ground. What is unacceptable to Pakistan is not to respect the inviolability of our borders,” she said. “All of these things make it more difficult for us to be an effective partner.” reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk