News
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Pakistan-US talks on NATO supplies make progress* Two sides discuss technical details of matter
By I Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the US had moved a step ahead in the talks on resumption of NATO supplies as they started discussion of technical details of the matter, sources in the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
However, they clarified that the progress did not mean conclusion of talks. The two sides agreed on the broad framework of reopening of the supply lines, besides discussing the Salala incident, drone attacks and other issues, nevertheless, modalities were yet to be decided, the sources told Daily Times. “We moved a step ahead in talks with the US and now details are under discussion at technical level,” they said.
To a question about taxation on NATO supplies, apology on Salala and the talks on drone strikes, a senior official on condition of anonymity told Daily Times, “We are negotiating all these issues with a view to resolve them all in our best national interest.” However, no major breakthrough had taken place, he added.
Diplomatic sources said talks were going on but facing difficulties on the issue of charges on NATO supplies. “So one cannot say that the negotiations are in progress smoothly, though ultimately some formula would be agreed,” they further said. Like the Pakistani side, the US officials in the country were also careful not to say something openly about the ongoing talks being held simultaneously in Islamabad and Washington between the authorities of the two countries.
US embassy spokesman Mark Stroh told Daily Times that negotiations on NATO supplies had been going on between the officials of the two sides. When asked about the difficulties, he said his official stance was that the talks were going on.
According to sources, Pakistan wants to contain drone attack being carried out by the US in Tribal Areas along the Afghan border. Islamabad has also demanded taxation on NATO supplies – $5,000 a truck – which the US considers too high.
The sources said issues were moving toward settlement but not without difficulties, as ties between the two countries were at the lowest ebb. “Nevertheless, this is not the first time that the two sides are experiencing hard time in bilateral ties, and they have the experience to restore the mutual confidence and put the relations back on smooth path,” they added.
Commenting on the ongoing talks, analyst Lt Gen (r) Talat Masood said Pakistan and the US had to discuss modalities when they had agreed in principle to resume the supplies. He said some sort of understanding was likely in connection with drone attacks if its technical aspect was discussed in detail.
The sources said interaction at diplomatic and political level continued along with technical discussions on the issue. The US Embassy in Islamabad and the Pakistani Embassy in Washington are busy convincing negotiators and the two governments to reach some understanding in the best interest of the two countries.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk