Pakistan, US look to salvage ties

Pakistan on Wednesday turned down fresh US demands for early resumption of the stalled NATO supplies, saying that the contentious issue would be decided in the joint session of parliament, which has been convened to revisit the bilateral ties and devise future terms of engagement with the United States. Islamabad also made it clear to Washington that it would not move against Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD) chief, who has been put by the US on its ‘most wanted terrorists’ list’ along with another senior JuD leader Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki. The US has also announced a bounty of $10 million on Hafiz Saeed whereas reward for Abdur Rehman Makki is $2 million. US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Thomas Nides, who reached here Wednesday morning on a mission to improve the strained Pakistan-US ties, held meetings with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar soon after his arrival.

The US official was told that Pakistan would not detain Hafiz Saeed as there was no concrete evidence suggesting his involvement in the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008 or any other act of subversion. “Deputy Secretary Nides was told that such acts by US (bounty on Hafiz Saeed) would further harm the already strained ties and also damage the ongoing efforts for reconciliation between Islamabad and Washington,” said a Pakistani diplomat privy to the crucial Pak-US talks. Earlier, Nides asked for the early reopening of the NATO supply lines, which were blocked by Islamabad soon after the airstrikes on two Pakistani border posts in Mohmand Agency last year in November in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed. The US official said that the United States respected Pakistan’s sovereignty but it also expected that Islamabad would take full cognizance of Washington’s security concerns and try to address them. “The US official was told that since the matter of NATO supplies is now before the parliament so the government couldn’t oblige Washington on this count and they should wait for the outcome of the parliamentary debate on NATO supply lines and other bilateral issues such as drone strikes,” the diplomat said. Meanwhile, in a statement on US bounty on Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said, “Pakistan would prefer to receive concrete evidence to proceed legally rather than engaging in a public discussion on this issue. “He underlined that in a democratic country like Pakistan, where judiciary is independent, evidence against anyone must withstand judicial scrutiny,” said a statement. In his meeting with US Deputy Secretary, Prime Minister Gilani reiterated that new rules of engagements between Pakistan, USA/NATO/ISAF must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan. “The Prime Minister emphasized that the ongoing parliamentary review process offered an unprecedented opportunity to bring transparency and credibility to the rules of engagement with USA, NATO and ISAF,” said an official statement. “Relations with US must be based on mutual respect and mutual interest,” said the prime minister The prime minister further stated that Pakistan would like to build bilateral relations with USA based on mutual respect and mutual interest. The US delegation also called on Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar at the Foreign Ministry. The two delegations exchanged views on the whole gamut of bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. The foreign minister briefed the US side on the parliamentary process underway in regard to new terms of engagement with the United States. Khar underscored that the democratic government of Pakistan wanted the voice and aspirations of the people of Pakistan reflected in the country’s foreign policy. She stressed that the parliamentary process was the key in achieving Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives which included security and economic prosperity of the country. The US official conveyed that Washington fully respected the parliamentary process and reaffirmed the US government’s desire to re-engage with Pakistan. He also appreciated Pakistan’s positive and constructive role in bringing peace and stability in the region. According to statement issued by US embassy after Nides meeting with Khar, the US deputy secretary said, “I’m very pleased to be here at this pivotal time between the United States and Pakistan to engage in discussions about the future of this very, very important relationship.” “I am here to build upon the important conversations that have taken place over the last 10 days – including between President Zardari and Ambassador Grossman in Dushanbe and between President Obama with Prime Minister Gilani in Seoul,” he said. “As President Obama said last week when he met Prime Minister Gilani, we believe that we can achieve a balanced approach in a relationship that respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and interests but also represents our concerns about our national security,” he said. He said, “We are committed to the people of Pakistan. And, we recognize how challenging this past year has been. And, I am heartened that we are working through our differences very constructively.” “Being here today proves that a sustained engagement is the most productive way forward, and a hallmark of the way in which mature democracies operate. Too much is at stake for us to turn away from each other, so we must work through all of these challenges,” Nides said.