Rawalpindi, May 13 (ANI): Pakistan and Western military alliance commanders have failed to make headway on crucial contentious issues, reportedly after the western-side repeated the U.S. stance of not inviting Pakistan to the Chicago NATO Summit, refusal to apologise over the Salala incident, continuance of drone attacks and threats of toughened aid conditions for Pakistan.
According to The Nation, the leadership of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headed by General John Allen and accompanied by its Afghan military counterparts arrived in Pakistan reportedly with a 'grim' message for the country - open NATO supplies or face Pentagon-sponsored 'other' set of options.
A brief statement from Pakistan's military sounded to imply that the ISAF -led delegation's arrival did not bear any relevance with Pak-U.S. relations and the delegation was visiting Pakistan in connection with Tripartite Commission meeting.
"Preliminary bilateral meetings were held with Pakistan Army delegation, led by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Talks focused on operations in border areas and coordination mechanisms to avoid untoward incidents," the statement said.
But, according to sources, the subjects mentioned in the military statement were least discussed in the Kayani-Allen.
The ISAF led delegation conveyed to its counterparts at GHQ that the future of 'extensive' Pak-US strategic prospects depends on Pakistan's decision to re-open NATO supply routes.
Pakistan Army's demand of an unconditional apology from the US over Salala incident and its insistence to stop drone strikes in the north-western tribal areas were too not 'well reciprocated'.
The U.S. Congress has also proposed drastic slash in aid to Pakistan linking the reversal of this proposal with the restoration of NATO supplies.
The strategic relationship between the two allies has been on a soaring end since last year's November 26 Salala attack. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
