Daily Times

Sir: Pakistan and the US seemed close to a breakthrough as the meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet came on the heels of overnight talks between top Pakistani and US officials to narrow down their differences. It was the second time in less than a week that the ISAF commander, General John Allen, landed in Pakistan to help break the impasse on restoration of NATO supplies. He, along with US Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides, held extensive talks with their Pakistani interlocutors including Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Chief of Army Staff Gen Kayani. To keep the media at bay, the talks were held at Foreign Minister Khar’s residence and at the GHQ. The two sides had finally reached an agreement. In the meeting at the foreign minister’s residence at the Ministers’ Enclave, the two sides took to finalising the practical details of a proposed agreement for reopening of the NATO supplies and other contentious matters between the two states. As per the agreement, the US would come up with something close to an apology for the Salala attack; and the US would announce immediate release of payments under CSF. The issue of charges to be paid by NATO to Pakistan for using the country’s road network was also settled downward from what Pakistan had demanded: $5,000 per container to around $1,000. The US has given assurances that it would compensate Pakistan in some other way. Pakistan-US relations hit a snag when a month or so ago, the US had recalled its technical staff engaged in drafting and finalising mutually acceptable terms for restoration of NATO supply routes.

Obviously the opening of NATO supplies would help in the following: (a) End the bilateral impasse, diplomatic stalemate and the ensuing blame-game. (b) Enough has been done in terms of ‘punishment’ to the ally for the ‘deliberate’ attack on Salala that killed 24 Pakistan soldiers. (c) The message is clearly sent across that any such attempt by the US would be considered as an act of aggression and that it would carry more severe repercussions. (d) The hostile elements within Pakistan like the Pakistan Defence Council must also be convinced that hostility must not be given room to spoil the relations out of emotionalism. (e) If the formula of payment is agreed upon, the ultimate beneficiary of this deal would obviously be the nation. (f) With this, Pakistan has once again proved that its strategic importance cannot be undermined. It has the will and desire to join hands with the world community, not in isolation but through diplomatic and political endeavours, towards resolving the Afghan imbroglio peacefully, and that its negotiators like the foreign office and General Kayani have acquired enough skill, courage and resoluteness to fight for Pakistan’s national and sovereign interests. (g) This also goes to the credit of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf that an issue of huge importance has been amicably solved within the first week of his assuming office.

ESCHMALL SARDAR

Peshawar