Pak-US ties have reached turning point: Hillary

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emphasised on Friday that Pakistan must take decisive steps to defeat the militants and that relations between the two allies, tense since the killing of Osama bin Laden, had reached a turning point.

Clinton, the most senior US official to visit Pakistan since US Navy SEALs killed the al-Qaeda leader earlier this month, appeared to be trying to smooth over strains, reiterating that there was no evidence that any senior Pakistani officials had known of bin Laden’s whereabouts.

But she also said she had asked President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as well as Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to do more to fight the militants. “This is an especially important visit because we have reached a turning point,” a sombre Clinton told reporters at the US Embassy in Islamabad, after meeting the Pakistani officials with Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen. “We look to Pakistan, to the Government of Pakistan, to take decisive steps in the days ahead.”

Clinton said Pakistani officials had told her “someone, somewhere” had been providing support to bin Laden in Pakistan, but reiterated there was no evidence of any sort of complicity by senior government officials.

“We are trying to untangle the puzzle of bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad,” Clinton said. “But I want to stress again that we have absolutely no reason to believe anyone at the highest level of the government knew.”

Clinton said Pakistan and the United States had reached a turning point. “Osama bin Laden is dead but al-Qaeda and his syndicate of terror remain a serious threat to us both,” Secretary Clinton said in an authoritative tone.

Clinton’s whirlwind visit to Pakistan is meant to redefine the strategic relations between Washington and Islamabad, with the former calling the shots. Clinton and Mullen held talks with Pakistani leaders a day before the nation celebrates the 13th anniversary of nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan in 1998 during the regime of PM Nawaz Sharif’s, who tested despite intense pressure from Hillary Clinton’s spouse, then President Bill Clinton. 

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Zardari, Clinton discuss Pak-US cooperation in war on terror

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday and discussed the issues related to Pak-US cooperation in war against terrorism.President Zardari and Secretary Clinton in a one-on-one meeting that lasted for half-an-hour at the President House, discussed the issues of security, terrorism and extremism that were hampering the regional peace. President Zardari mentioned Pakistan’s sacrifices in war on terror and said the country played the role of a frontline state in countering this menace.He said Pakistan had paid a huge price in the fight against terrorism in terms of casualties and grave economic situation.
The President said terrorism can only be eliminated through joint efforts at regional and international level.
He urged the international community to enhance the level of cooperation with Pakistan and assist it in overcoming the issue of global importance.
Secretary Clinton mentioned Pakistan’s contributions in war against terrorism.
She also expressed her condolences to President Zardari on the death of his father.
The ways to enhance bilateral ties especially in the backdrop of current security situation was also discussed.

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