Senator John Kerry has affirmed that US policy has no designs against Pakistan's nuclear and strategic assets and both the countries have agreed to continue information-sharing and work together in future actions against high value targets in Pakistan.
"It was important to press the "reset button" in US-Pakistan relations and use this opportunity to put the relations back on track and work jointly to bring about the most effective co-operation to combat terrorism, which is in both the countries interest.," Senator John Kerry said on Monday in a meeting held in the Presidency with President Asif Ali Zardari.
Senator John Kerry was accompanied by US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani were also present in the meeting. According to sources in the Presidency, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani conveyed strong feelings of Pakistani nation and resolutions of joint-sitting of the Parliament to Senator John Kerry against the unilateral raid by the US in Abottabad on May, 2, 2011.
The sources said that both the countries decided to continue information-sharing to combat terrorism. But the sources said that the Prime Minister made it clear to John Kerry that any other unilateral US action in Pakistani territory will damage relations between the two countries. The sources said that President Asif Ali Zardari also held one-to-one talks with John Kerry in a luncheon meeting in the presidency.
According to joint statement issued by the Presidency on Monday, "it was agreed that both US and Pakistan must recognise and respect each others national interests, particularly in countering terrorism and in working together for promoting reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan." It was agreed by leadership of both the countries in the meeting that all tracks of US-Pakistan engagement need to be revisited with a view to creating a clear understanding on ways and means to carry forward their co-operation in a mutually beneficial manner. It was also agreed that the two countries will work together in any future actions against high value targets in Pakistan.
Pakistan-US relations should go forward on the basis of mutual respect, trust and interest. Pakistani leadership made it clear that Pakistan's sovereignty and national interests must be respected and accommodated by the US. The President, Prime Minister and the Chief of the Army Staff have had a constructive exchange of views with Senator John Kerry.
The situation arising from the Abbottabad Operation and the death of Osama bin Laden was discussed at length. The Pakistani leadership conveyed to Senator Kerry that Pakistan was a victim of terrorism and that the whole nation was united in eliminating this curse from its soil. Osama bin Laden was an enemy of Pakistan and al Qaida had declared war against Pakistan and launched suicide attacks against its people.
Pakistan was being hit by a spate of terrorist attacks after the elimination of Osama bin Laden. It was agreed that the two sides would intensify their engagement through official channels and that negative media messages were misplaced and detrimental to the core national interests of both US and Pakistan.
President's Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting lasted for over two hours. Pak -US bilateral relations with focus on the situation arising out of the May 2 Abbottabad operation was discussed during the meeting, he said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has reiterated Pakistan's strong commitment and resolve to fight the menace of extremism and terrorism.
He, however, underlined the imperative of mutual interest and respect for Pakistan's sovereignty to strengthen Pakistan's national consensus in the war against terror and thus achieving the common objective of defeating the forces of terror. Pakistan, he added desires due recognition and support of international community, particularly of the US at this stage rather than negative messaging and uncalled for criticism, emanating from there.
The Prime Minister was talking to US Delegation led by Senator John F. Kerry, Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who called on him at the PM's House here Monday morning. He underlined that Pakistan was part of the solution for ensuring lasting peace in the region and it was the need of the hour that Pakistan and US should rebuild the trust and confidence between their governments and institutions. The Prime Minister suggested that the political, military and intelligence tracks of interaction between Pakistan and US should proceed simultaneously and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and US State Department should take the lead on working out the modalities of the joint strategy to be adopted for avoiding any possible negative impact on the relations in the future.
Both the countries, he said, have to be on the same page with regard to security situation in the region and US must take into account Pakistan's core national interests in its policies. US Senator John Kerry while responding to the Prime Minister's views said that US recognises Pakistan's contribution and sacrifices made in the war against terrorism.
The strategic relations build up between the two countries require, he said, new impetus to strengthen the relations in the interest of regional peace and stability. Senator John Kerry mentioned that he emphatically wanted to dispel the impression that US is interested to take over Pakistan's Nuclear installations. He said that he can write this with his blood that we have no interest in Pakistan's nuclear assets, however it is our desire to see these well protected and secure under proper command and control system.
Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Interior Senator Rehman Malik, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Secretaries Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior, Pakistan Ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani, US Ambassador Cameron Munter and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.