The U.S. and Pakistan on Saturday sought to dispel apprehensions of a trust deficit between the two countries that are at the forefront of the global war on terror. While Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his American counterpart Hillary Clinton had briefed him in detail about the recently concluded Indo-U.S. strategic dialogue to drive home the point, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke suggested that if there was ever any trust deficit between the two countries, it is a thing of the past.
Responding to a question on what the U.S. proposed to do to address the trust deficit between the two countries with special reference to the American response to the bombing attempt at New York City's Times Square, Mr. Holbrooke — presently on a two-day visit to Islamabad — shot back: “When there are a dozen areas of cooperation, why repeat something, which [if ever true] is very out of date.”
Mr. Holbrooke arrived in the capital on Friday night to oversee the ongoing sectoral meetings between the two countries on various aspects of the strategic dialogue that took place in the U.S. in March. His visit is a run-up to a follow-up tour of Pakistan by Ms. Clinton in July.
Addressing a “joint press stakeout” with Mr. Qureshi, the Special Representative sought to point out the change in the American strategy towards Pakistan since Barack Obama took over the White House. Responding to a question on the U.S. perception of Pakistan's role in the global war on terror, he said people should be aware of the sacrifices made by the Pakistani people and Pakistani Army in South Waziristan and Swat.
“The U.S. has made major efforts to support and we hope that it is appreciated. Even if it is not appreciated, the fact is that we have a common enemy and we work shoulder to shoulder.” Elaborating on the difference in the American strategy under the Obama administration, Mr. Holbrooke said the U.S. had increased assistance to not just the military but also on the civilian side. During this stay itself, he pledged an additional $11.1 million in humanitarian assistance for those affected by the conflict in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Categorical that U.S.-Pakistan relations was independent of American policy towards India and Afghanistan, Mr. Holbrooke underlined America's intent to fulfill its commitments towards the Pakistani people. While reiterating U.S. support for Pakistan in its bid to address the crisis on the energy front, the Special Representative refused to be drawn into commenting on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
About the Indo-U.S. strategic dialogue, Mr. Qureshi pointed out that this was not a new development; adding that Ms. Clinton had called him in Brussels to brief about what transpired. Similarly, he recalled that Mr. Holbrooke had called him to brief about Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's Washington visit. “We appreciate this.”
