Envoy says 'democratic' Pak cannot take strategic decisions through one phone call

Washington, Feb 16(ANI): Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman has said Pakistan was functioning as a democracy and could no longer make strategic decisions based on one phone call.

"Pakistan can no longer make crucial strategic decisions based on one phone call, and I thank all US officials and other interlocutors, who have worked so hard to welcome me to Washington and to exercise patience throughout this 'strategic pause' in our bilateral engagement," she added.

She has stressed that Pakistan-US ties should be more consistent, stable and transparent.

Rehman also drew attention to Pakistan's preference to have trade and economic ties with the United States over continued dependence on aid

She, however, did not speak specifically about Islamabad's position on Pakistan-US wide-ranging ties as the Pakistan parliament would come out with a detailed advice after the completion of an ongoing review in the aftermath of the November 26 cross-border attacks on Mohmand border posts.

Many of the gaps could be mitigated "if we step back, give pause and re-construct", she added.

"But on the strategic end, this relationship has been burdened with too many expectations, and invested with an inordinately high wattage of emotion," The Daily Times quoted her, as saying.

Rehman expressed confidence that both sides would be able to augment ties in a mutually meaningful and beneficial way.

"The good news is that many of us on both sides think it is time this relationship matured into a more consistent, stable and transparent equation, with weight given to mutual respect, but once again that would be the subject best reserved right now for our parliament to decide," she added. (ANI)