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Saturday, July 23, 2011
Abandoning Pakistan not an option: US
WASHINGTON: The US-Pakistan relationship is complicated and important but walking away from the ties with the key regional country is not an option, President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser has said. Tom Donilon also acknowledged in an appearance in Charlie Rose Show that maintaining ties with Pakistan and working with it serves American national security interests. “Its a complicated complex and important relationship. There are frustrations but there are also important work that we do together and again our job and the National Security Team at the direction of the president is to address our national interests - walking away from this relationship is not an option,” he said aired late on Thursday night. Donilon’s comments came as the two countries struggled to overcome differences on security issues since May 2 unilateral American action in Abbottabad which took out al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden but severely strained the bilateral relationship. The US and Pakistan have been cooperating closely in the fight against al Qaeda and Taliban along the Afghan border since 9/11 attacks and the consequent US invasion of the landlocked neighbour of Pakistan. The White House adviser recognised the importance of Pakistani cooperation as well as the US assisting Islamabad in economic development. It would be in the United States interests to have continued counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan and work for their economic stability, he said. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk