The United States said Monday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statement on consequences of a Pakistan-linked terrorist attack on American soil has been misrepresented in the media, with a top official emphasising that the remarks in no way indicated any impact on flow of US economic or military aid for the key ally.
"As for Secretary Clinton's interview on (CBS channel's) 60 Minutes (programme), I think that perhaps it was not fully understood for what she was saying by some people who didn't see the full text or didn't appreciate what she was saying," US Special Representative Richard Holbrooke said. The special envoy was commenting on interpretation of Secretary Clinton's statement made days after an aborted car bombing attempt in New York's Times Square by a Faisal Shahzad, a US citizen of Pakistani origin.
He said there have been some misunderstandings about the remarks. The special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan said Washington has been encouraged by Islamabad's help in the ongoing probe. He pointed out the fact that Secretary "herself praised the Pakistan government for what it's done" in the fight against terrorism in the interview.
"We are concerned about any attacks on the United States or threatened attacks. And the man in question has talked about his travels to Pakistan. We have discussed this at the appropriate levels with our friends in Pakistan. And we will continue to do so," he explained. "And we're working very closely with the Pakistani authorities on these issues. And their co-operation, so far, has been very encouraging," the diplomat added.
Holbrooke reiterated that the US relations with Pakistan "have improved greatly in the last year" under the Obama Administration. On US assistance for Pakistan, he cited expansion in both economic and counter terrorism military aid for the South Asian ally, stating efforts are underway to help it deal with energy and water issues.
"And we have increased our civilian aid enormously with Kerry-Lugar-Berman. We've increased our military assistance. We have refocused. We're trying to find ways to help Pakistan in regard to such critical issues of - as electricity, energy and water," he said at a Foreign Press Centre briefing. The two countries, he noted, "are making progress on a whole range of issues."
"The Pakistani Army has taken some very courageous actions in Swat and South Waziristan. There's a lot left to be done, but I'm not here to criticise the government, but to thank it for what it's done. At the State Department briefing, Spokesman Philip J Crowley also clarified the remarks when he was inundated with questions on the Secretary's statement.
"I don't think she said that--I think she was responding to a hypothetical question," he responded when asked the Secretary said Pakistan has been told of "severe consequences" in the event of a successful terrorist attack in the US is traced back to the country. Both the United States and Pakistan share the threat, he stressed and echoed the Obama Administration's satisfaction with Islamabad's help in the continuing probe into Times Square incident.
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