Pakistan and United States on Thursday agreed to mend strained relations by improving mutual ties and working jointly for peace and security in the region. The understanding was reached during a meeting of high-level US civilian and military delegation led by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Pakistani side led by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
According to reliable sources, the meeting took place in a tense environment, The US side reiterated its demand that Pakistan must go after the Haqqani network. Both the sides stuck to their guns as Hillary was of the view that attacks from inside North Waziristan be stopped, whereas Prime Minister conveyed to her Islamabad's concerns over the repeated cross-border attacks from Afghanistan and demanded that the incursions should be stopped.
According to a press release issued by Prime Minister House after the meeting stated that Prime Minister Gilani called upon Secretary Clinton to give peace a chance as envisaged in the All Parties Conference's resolution, which reflects the sentiments of the Pakistani nation.
Gilani reiterated the collective national view on the issue of peace in Afghanistan as articulated in the All Parties Conference Resolution. Disagreements between the coalition partners in the war on terror should not undermine strategic relationship which is so vital for the promotion of mutual interests of the two countries, said the Prime Minister.
The discussion also focused on the bilateral relations between the two countries especially in the fields of security, economy, energy and investment. Both the sides urged the importance of the positive messaging in public diplomacy to promote an enabling environment between the two countries. The Prime Minister said that both the countries should complement each other to counter terrorism, adding the relationship should also go beyond terrorism.
The US Secretary of State said: "I have too much respect for Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and for the country." The US Secretary of State recognised the importance of Pakistan in the context of peace and security in the region. Secretary Hillary Clinton appreciated the All Parties Conference's Resolution which she said was a right message from Pakistan to the world.
In the meeting, the Pakistan's side included Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar, Finance Minister, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Army Chief, General Asfhaq Pervaz Kayani, DG, ISI, Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Foreign Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Clinton was joined by David Petraeus, Director CIA, Marc Grossman, US Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempesy, and Lieutenant General Douglas Lute. Earlier, the Prime Minister welcomed Secretary Hillary Clinton and the members of the delegation followed by a meeting, which was held in a cordial and frank atmosphere.
Earlier, the US Secretary of State arrived here Thursday on a two-day visit to meet Pakistani leadership and discuss various aspects of the Pak-US strategic relationship. She was received at the airport by Senator Sughra Imam and high officials of the foreign office. During her stay, Clinton will also meet President Asif Ali Zardari and others.
Hillary Clinton will also meet Pakistan's politicians today (Friday) as part of what the western media has reported 'a last-ditch effort' to salvage Islamabad-Washington partnership in the war on terror. According to the information gathered from sources within various political parties, the politicians who would meet Secretary Clinton are: leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of PML (N), Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Salim Saifullah Khan, who is head of the PML-Q like-minded, leader of Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP) Senator Abdul Malik and others.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was also invited to attend the meeting but he did not accept the invitation due to his scheduled visit to Turkey. "Nawaz Sharif is leaving on a seven-day visit to Turkey on Friday (today) for which he will not be able to attend the meeting," Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said in response to a question at a press conference here on Thursday.
Without making it clear whether he would be attending the meeting, he said he was also invited to the meeting. He said the country's sovereignty would be actively defended if he was able to attend the meeting. "We are not against the United States but some of its policies initiated by former President George W Bush," he said, adding now the time has come that US administration has to take some decision. Sources said that the political leadership would convey to Clinton the decisions taken in the recently held all parties conference (APC) and the unanimous resolution passed on national security.