This sense was communicated to Ambassador Cameron Munter when he called on Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to discuss what was officially described by the Foreign Office as “the current status of bilateral relations between Pakistan and the US”.
Ambassador Munter was further told that the government was undertaking the review process with an open and positive mind; and that it firmly believed the relationship was critical for both countries.
The government, he was informed, did not want the trough in relationship to extend.
A source quoted Ms Khar as having told the US envoy that the government saw the situation arising out of the Nov 26 border post attacks as an opportunity for putting the temperamental ties on a mutually acceptable basis.
The government had instituted a process to review cooperative arrangements with the US following the Mohmand incident last month in which 24 troops lost their lives. The review task was assigned to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, which has been framing recommendations to be tabled before a joint session of both houses of parliament.
The process had given the impression that the government, in view of the prevalent anti-Americanism in the country, might go for lowering the level of cooperation.
However, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, and subsequently the Foreign Office, emphasised the criticality of the relationship, lowering talk of a major shift.
Broader contours of the revised America policy would be revealed at the upcoming envoys’ conference next week. Prime Minister Gilani is expected to give a policy statement at the conclusion of the conference, which will be attended by Pakistani envoys from selected capitals.
Expressing US interest in getting past the Nov 26 tragedy at the earliest, Ambassador Munter said the probe into the attacks would be expedited — essentially meeting one of the earlier demands of the military that the investigations be completed at the earliest.
The US-led investigation into the Nato air strike was earlier expected to report its initial findings by Dec 23.
“The US ambassador assured the foreign minister of an early conclusion of the investigation into the tragic incident of Nov 26 and to work together with the government of Pakistan to normalise the relationship at the earliest,” a Foreign Office media release said. Via Dawn News pk
Photo: Photo by PPI
