Ongoing controversy over NATO attack "difficult challenge" for US-Pak ties: Toner

Washington, Nov 30 (ANI): The US State Department spokesman Mark Toner has called the ongoing controversy over the NATO attack that has affected the bilateral relationship between Washington and Islamabad, as a "difficult challenge."

On being asked about his opinion on Pakistan's move of taking actions, including decision to boycott the Bonn Conference, over the NATTO attacks way ahead of getting a through investigation report, Toner said: "Well, I think it says that we are facing a difficult situation, a difficult challenge. We're trying to address it in a way that's transparent and forthright in the sense that we're having an investigation that's going to look into what happened."

"You probably saw that our Central Command did issue a press release last night giving some of the details on that investigation. And in every conversation we've had and continue to have with the Pakistani Government, while expressing our deep condolences about the incident, we are also pledging to work - continue to work together," he added.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she is 'very sorry' about Pakistan's announcement to boycott the Bonn Conference next week on the future of Afghanistan, and would try to convince it to attend.

Merkel said Germany would still "see what could be done to change" Islamabad's decision to bow out of the meeting in the western German city, taken in protest at NATO air strikes which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

"We are both interested in constructive development of Afghanistan. Which is why I consider the conference hosted by the (German) foreign minister to be very important. We always said that conflicts can only be resolved in the region and Pakistan is part of this region which is why we are very sorry that this cancellation came today," Merkel added.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed hope to avail Pakistan's cooperation in the future, despite the latter's decision to boycott next week's international conference on Afghanistan following the NATO attack. (ANI)