Pakistan for extensive talks with US to mend ties

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Sunday called for extensive dialogue with the United States to strengthen bilateral ties ahead of crucial meeting between their foreign ministers in New York. According to sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan wants undisputed relations with US and authorities on both sides shall avoid giving undue statements. The sources said that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar would also take up with her US counterpart the recent statement made by Ambassador Cameron Munter accusing close links between Islamabad and Haqqani Network of Afghan Taliban, who were blamed for recent Kabul attack. The sources were of the view that US ambassador's statement had added more fuel to fire in already strained bilateral relations between the two strategic allies after Afghan Taliban commander Sirajuddin Haqqani's reported remarks that his fighters had shifted their bases to Afghanistan. "There was no need for such remarks by Ambassador Munter," the sources said, adding that Washington had been trying to entangle Islamabad in an unnecessary blame game to cover up its failure in Afghanistan. They were of the view that Pakistan had suffered the most in the course of war against terror, and had promptly cooperated in response to request from the US-led troops in quelling militancy mounted against them by some Afghan resistance groups. They questioned the intentions and capability of the US-led multinational forces in securing Kabul even after decade-long presence in Afghanistan - the country the Americans had come to defend. They were of the view that like Haqqani Network, a large number of other foreign militant fighters, accused of using safe heavens in North and South Waziristan Agencies, had left Pakistani territory ever since Pakistan Army deployed its troops there a few years ago. The sources taking serious view of the dubious role of the US-led forces also criticised the US for not combating high-ranking Pakistan Taliban commander including Mullah Fazalullah and their fighters who are enjoying safe sanctuaries in Afghanistan and mounting frequent attacks into Pakistan to destabilise it.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt