ISLAMABAD: In a message directed at the parliamentarians engaged in a long drawn-out debate on new terms of engagement with the United States, a visiting senior US diplomat, while advocating continued bilateral engagement, reminded them on Wednesday to be mindful of American security concerns.
And President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan will take a decision on restoration of Nato supply routes in the national interest.
“We have different perspectives. And we will where we have those, seek to find solutions that respect each other’s interests. I believe we will come out of this with a relationship that benefits both our nations,” US Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides said in a statement echoing President Obama’s earlier call for a balanced approach that respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and interests and also caters for US national security.
The theme of both statements issued during his stay in Islamabad pertained to continued US commitment to Pakistan, significance of sustained engagement and the need for a balanced approach.
The visit by Mr Nides, following one by US Centcom chief Gen James Mattis and Isaf chief Gen John Allen, was meant to build on the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Seoul on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit last week and another between President Zardari and Afghanistan-Pakistan envoy Marc Grossman in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The trip also coincided with a growing controversy in Pakistan over US bounty for Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
After meetings between Mr Nides and top government officials, the Foreign Office, which had initially kept mum over the matter, asked the US, through a media statement, to produce “concrete evidence of Mr Saeed’s involvement in terrorism” and stop “engaging in a public discussion on this issue”.
During his day-long stay in Islamabad, Mr Nides, who is technically the number two at the State Department, met President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. The composition of Mr Nides’ delegation, which included Dr Peter Lavoy, assistant secretary of defence for Asia and Pacific security affairs, and Mr Daniel Fieldman, deputy to special Af-Pak envoy, was indicative of the agenda of meetings in Islamabad.
The FO said the talks covered “the whole gamut of bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest”.
US Embassy spokesman Mark Stroh described the meetings as “real and productive” engagement with the civilian leadership.
Mr Nides sounded positive about the interactions. “I am heartened that we are working through our differences very constructively.”
Sources on the Pakistani side also termed the meetings productive. But they insisted that there was “no blinking” on the issue of sovereignty.
Statements issued by the Presidency, Prime Minister’s Office and the Foreign Office all emphasised respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty, need for a relationship based on mutual trust and mutual respect and importance of the parliamentary review.
During his meeting with Mr Nides at the Governor’s House in Lahore, President Zardari said the government would take a final decision on restoration of Nato supplies after going through recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS).
He expressed concern over drone attacks and said these were against the country’s sovereignty. “Drone attacks are causing civilian casualties and also fueling militancy,” he said, adding that Pakistan-US relations should be based on mutual respect and interest.
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