Pakistan once again seeks US apology over Salala check-post attacks
Tuesday, June 5th, 2012 1:27:22 by Faisal Farooq
Reinstating her previous stance, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar urged the United States to apologize for an air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops last year if it wants Islamabad to resume land route for allied forcing battling in Afghanistan.
Pakistan closed the supply line for NATO forces, expressing its annoyance over the lethal November attack. The blockage forced the allied forces to rely on longer, more expensive northern routes through Russia and Central Asian States.
While referring to new terms of engagement for US-Pakistan unanimously passed by the joint sitting of the parliament the minister observed, “A representative parliament of 180 million people has spoken on one subject. A US apology is something which should have been forthcoming the day this incident happened and what a partnership not only demands, but requires”.
However, she was of the opinion that the Obama administration should live up to its principled of doing what they considered to be right rather than what was more famous.
Saying that Islamabad has political obstacles of its own, the minister said the most popular move was to continue the blockage of NATO supply line.
She noted, “If I were a political advisor to the prime minister, this is what I would advise him to do. But I’m not advising him to do that because what is at stake is much more important for Pakistan than just winning an election”.
Criticizing America’s use of drone attacks to kill militants in Pakistan’s lawless tribal area, Khar was of the opinion that what they are doing service to their eventual goal winning the war on terror if they are creating 10 more enemies for every one target.
She added, “Clearly, my advice at this point is that we don’t need to blow this out of proportion at all. But I would certainly not want this particular issue to cast a shadow over the relationship”.
The on-again, off-again relationship between the two allied states is at a new low, and with US elections looming in November, President Barack Obama is unlikely to say sorry to Pakistan and make himself vulnerable to attacks from his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney.
A Nato summit in Chicago concluded two weeks ago without a deal on the Nato supply lines.
Tags: Afghanistan, Central Asian States, Chicago summit, Hina RAbbani Khar, Islamabad, NATO, Pakistan, President Barack Obama, Russia, USShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=24762
Posted by Faisal Farooq
on Jun 5 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan.
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Mrs. Hina Rabbani Khar in other words or indirectly you are renewing the convicted ex-PM Gillani’s shameful and awful statement in which he said that by US’ apology shall the martyred soldiers be lived?
And as far as your this stance is concerned “A representative parliament of 180 million people has spoken on one subject,” the please keep it in your minds firmly and strongly that 180 million people have rejected the restoration of NATO’s supply routes thru different surveys and the leaders know it very well so never use the nation’s shoulders to fire your personal bullets on USA.