WASHINGTON, Feb 14: US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld indicated that Washington would resume long-lasting military-to-military “strategic relationship” with Islamabad based on discussions the Pakistani president had had at the White House.
Speaking at a press conference following Gen Musharraf’s visit to Pentagon, Mr Rumsfeld said they had talked of a number of ways for strengthening the military-to-military relationship between the two countries.
He said the defence consultation group was being re- established and Undersecretary Doug Feith would be the US representative in negotiations, and “we look forward to strengthening the military-to-military ties”.
Mr Rumsfeld said that as the president (Bush) had indicated, the “United States and Pakistan have, what we consider to be a long-lasting relationship, that is, a strategic relationship. It is mutually beneficial. And we look forward to strengthening it in a variety of different ways.”
He said: “We discussed what we in the United States call Operation Enduring Freedom, and certainly Pakistan’s support for that effort has been important ... it has been significant, and it is appreciated.”
President Musharraf said that Pakistan and United States enjoyed very close military relations which went to the strategic level of cooperation in the past. “And it is my pleasure to revive the same degree of relationship again with the United States.”
He elaborated “we have cooperated in the past in all actions. I remember our cooperation in Somalia and other United Nations missions abroad where Pakistani forces and US forces have interacted with each other very closely and very successfully. So, therefore, it is Pakistan’s desire to increase the level of cooperation with the United States in all fields of military activity.”
The defence consultative group, Gen Musharraf said, would look into the physical side of “what we are, what we need to address. I think the future holds good for our relationship and for the equipment that you are talking about in concrete forms. As time passes things will start happening.”
ARMS SALES: Mr Rumsfeld said the defence consultative group would also pursue ways to revive arms sales, adds agencies.
Gen Musharraf said he had discussed a list of Pakistani requirements with Mr Rumsfeld, which would be further looked into by the consultative group.
Regarding tensions between Pakistan and India, Mr Rumsfeld expressed the hope for “a peaceful resolution of what clearly has been a very tense period in recent months”.
He said Pakistan and India were each sovereign and important states. The principal interest of the United States was seeing that those two countries were able to talk and manage their affairs in a peaceful way. Each of those countries had relationships with a number of other countries and, indeed, purchased weapons from a number of other countries. “And that is not surprising, since each is a sovereign nation”.
Mr Rumsfeld said: “President Bush and President Musharraf had a good discussion today. A good number of members of Pakistan senior officials from the government are here, as well as the ambassador, and were in the meetings. They have been talking to a variety of cabinet departments. In addition, President Musharraf is meeting with people on Capitol Hill. I think it is probably best to leave for the president and his team to discuss particular meetings they have had.”
