As expected - given the rising tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan over the arrest of an American Embassy functionary in Lahore - the U.S. on Saturday night announced the postponement of the trilateral meeting in Washington with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Though no fresh dates have been announced, the U.S. State Department said it would be convened at the earliest opportunity.
The reason cited by the U.S. for the postponement was the political changes in Pakistan late last week when after a Federal Cabinet overhaul Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi – who had presided over the Foreign Ministry for the past three years – was shown the door.
According to a statement put out by the U.S. State Department, the trilateral meeting on Afghanistan – scheduled for February 23 and 24 – was postponed in consultation with Afghan and Pakistani officials. Seeking to quell speculation, the statement added that the U.S. remains committed to “robust engagement between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States, as we share many issues of mutual concern and benefit from being at the same table’’.
Ahead of the announcement, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir had hinted at such a possibility; stating that the dates had been changed more than once and “the trilateral is most likely being rescheduled’’. However, he did not link it to the stand-off with the U.S. over the arrest of American Embassy functionary Raymond Davis for shooting down two ‘armed’ men.
Maintaining that Pakistan would be ready for the trilateral meeting whenever it takes place, Mr. Bashir said it would be extremely counter-productive if one person destroys a 60-year relationship. “Our effort is to ensure that the Lahore incident is not blown out of proportion and hope that nothing will be said or done that will be detrimental to U.S.-Pak ties. We are mindful of not losing sense of reason. It is important to maintain rationality/proportionality in this issue.’’
Asked to comment on the departure of Mr. Qureshi and its impact on the forthcoming ministerial-level engagement with India, Mr. Bashir said: “Nobody is permanent. Mr. Qureshi played a very important role in promoting the process of dialogue with India but we are all dispensable individually.’’
As to whether Mr. Qureshi had been removed for refusing to certify that Davis was a diplomat as demanded by the U.S. and a powerful section of the present ruling dispensation in Pakistan, Mr. Bashir maintained that there was no pressure on the Foreign Office from any quarter in Pakistan and the Lahore High Court had said that it is the court’s prerogative to take cognisance of the question of diplomatic immunity if and when it arises.
