Pak-U.S: '' Era of new relations''

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Foreign Minister Hina Rabani Khar

has said that the new era of better relations with US has been started and mantra of “Do More” is being decreased and US has clarified that it had no role with blasphemy film. While addressing a press conference along with Pakistani Ambassador in Washington Sherry Rahman she said the relations are getting strengthened with USA and Pakistan wants trade not aid with US. She said there is a big difference between September 2011 to September 2012, adding that the statement which given by Mullen never repeated again. Khar said in 2011 we had to talk through media but today we are discussing many matters privately. Hina Rabbani Khar said due to the announcement of reconstruction of Peshawar Torkham Road by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton it means that America has agreed on our demand to compensate our lose of infrastructure, caused by the NATO containers . She also said with the cooperation of US aid many hundred magawat electricity projects would be completed during the current year. Khar said that Pakistan has not changed stance regarding drone strikes, adding that the drone strikes are illegal and counterproductive. Meanwhile US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has dubbed the anti-Islam film as “disgusting and repulsive”, but also condemned violent protests in Pakistan saying “violence cannot be tolerated”. Speaking to reporters with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar before their scheduled meeting at the Department of State, Clinton thanked Pakistan’s government for its efforts to protect American embassy and Consulates. She urged people everywhere to stand up and speak up against violence. She added that these protests should not be hijacked by people with extremist agendas. Clinton said that while the past year and a half has been challenging for the Pakistan-US relationship, both countries still had work to do together. “We can achieve more when we have a focused agenda,” Clinton said and added that she was looking forward to seeing President Asif Ali Zardari next week at the UN General Assembly in New York. “Our shared priority remains joint counterterrorism objectives to ensure security of US and Pakistani citizens.” Thanking Foreign Minister Khar for reopening the Nato supply routes, Clinton said they would talk about Afghanistan, especially on the meeting of the safe passage working group. Clinton added that she agreed that the US needed to shift from aid to trade and investment in Pakistan, and expressed hope that a bilateral investment treaty would be finalised soon. Khar said the condemnation of the sacrilegious video by Clinton and President Obama had sent a strong message that the US government does not support it. She added that the two countries needed to build together on the architecture of mutual trust and each country’s national interests. Khar said terrorists of all breeds and races threatened both Pakistan and the United States. The two countries have a unique opportunity to work together on Afghanistan and ensure there is no security vacuum during the transition period in Afghanistan, she added. The Clinton-Khar meeting was ongoing at the time of filing this report, and was scheduled to last for two hours. Expected attendees included Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman, Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides, Pakistan’s Ambassador Sherry Rehman and Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani.