| Let the cynicism begin! |
* 'Too much at stake for us to turn away from each other'
* Gilani says relations must be based on mutual respect, interest
ISLAMABAD: A top US diplomat on a fence-mending visit said on Wednesday that Pakistain had to address US concerns about security, calling for a "balanced" relationship that worked through the countries' differences.
Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides held talks with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and other cabinet ministers as part of a gradual process designed to reset relations that nose-dived over a series of crises in 2011.
"We believe that we can achieve a balanced approach in a relationship that respects Pakistain's illusory sovereignty and interests but also represents our concerns about our national security," said Nides.
"Too much is at stake for us to turn away from each other, so we must work through all of these challenges," he added.
Gilani said relations "must be based on mutual respect and mutual interest".
He said that "new rules of engagement" between Pakistain, the US, NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
and its US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan "must respect illusory sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistain".
"We can achieve our objective, peace and stability in region, and Afghan reconciliation through greater cooperation and on the basis of mutual trust," Gilani was quoted as saying in a statement from his office.
The prime minister said the ongoing parliamentary review offered an unprecedented opportunity to bring transparency and credibility to the rules of engagement with the US, NATO and ISAF. Separately, Nides also called on President
Asif Ali President Ten PercentZardari
... sticky-fingered husband of the late Benazir Bhutto ...
at the Governor's House in Lahore.
The president said that for long-term and sustained Pak-US ties, it was important that the relationship was based on transparency, mutual respect and mutual interest.
Zardari said that Pakistain attached great importance to its relationship with the US and the two countries had mutuality of interests to pursue. He said the government was awaiting the parliamentary review to reset its ties with Washington. Nides said the US recognised Pakistain's role in the fight against terrorism and wanted to restore multifaceted cooperation and relationship with Pakistain. He said rebuilding the trust and confidence between the two countries was essential to pursuing common objectives.
Meanwhile,
...back at the Hubba Hubba Club, Nunzio had his hands full of angry bleached blonde...
the two countries also agreed to go beyond security-related relations and promote public-private partnership in business and trade ties.
The agreement came during a meeting between Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Thomas Nides.
In a joint news conference, they said Pakistain and the US wanted to expand their economies and provide jobs to their citizens.
Sheikh said Pak-US relationship was going through a tough phase, adding that the two sides were working together to overcome these difficulties and start a new chapter.